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1856—1911 


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tibrarp  of  trhe  trheolocjicai  Seminary 

PRINCETON  •  NEW  JERSEY 
PRESENTED  BY 

Rufus  H.  LeFevre 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2009  with  funding  from 

Princeton  Theological  Seminary  Library 


http://www.archive.org/details/westernleanderclOOward 


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WESTERN- 
LEANDER-CLARK 
COLLEGE 


1856—1911 


By    /" 

Professor  Henry  W.  Ward,  A.  M. 


1911 

Otterbein  Press 

Dayton,  Ohio 


Britiratum 

r  I  ^O  the  great-hearted  pioneers  who,  seeing  from  afar 
-*-  the  vision  of  a  cultured  Christian  citizenship,  fifty 
years  ago  planted  Western  College  on  the  open  prairies 
of  Iowa;  to  the  men  and  women  who  with  parental 
solicitude  watched  over  the  Institution  through  its 
infancy  and  youth;  to  all  the  loyal-hearted  host  who 
have  given  unstintedly  of  their  means,  of  their  service, 
of  their  devoted  tears  and  prayers  that  the  College 
might  live  and  become  a  power  for  righteousness;  and 
especially  to  Major  Leander  Clark,  who  made  possible 
the  greater  things  of  the  present  and  the  future,  this 
volume  is,  with  reverent  appreciation,  inscribed. 


Foreword 


FOREWORD. 


^■"THE  life  story  of  noble  fathers  should  always  be 
1 1 1  treasured  by  their  children,  both  as  a  family  heri- 
^■^  tage  of  priceless  worth  and  as  an  inspiration  to 
them  and  their  sons  in  turn  to  add  to  the  luster  of  so 
fair  a  name,  scorning  ignoble  deeds. 

The  life  story  of  a  Christian  College,  begotten  of  the 
desire  to  bless  mankind,  nurtured  in  benevolence,  and 
matured  in  selfless  service,  should  be,  nay  must  be,  en- 
shrined in  the  heart  of  every  son  and  daughter  who  has 
felt  the  benign  touch  of  a  foster  mother  so  patient  and  so 
gentle.  There  is  something  peculiarly  sacred  and  worthy 
of  adoration  in  the  life  of  such  an  institution;  it  is  so  far 
removed  from  worldly  or  vulgar  aims  and  ideals,  and  yet 
so  delightfully  inwrought  with  warm  human  affections 
and  genial  human  associations ;  it  is  the  essence  of  a 
thousand  personalities,  of  a  thousand  friendships,  all 
refined  and  hallowed  by  the  breath  of  angels. 

The  spot,  too,  that  shelters  such  a  college  must  claim 
its  due  of  grateful  remembrance,  just  as  the  home  that 
gave  him  birth  and  sheltered  his  infancy  draws  the  heart 
of  every  true  son  with  a  love  that  only  increases  with  the 
lengthening  years.  Life's  larger  scenes  and  stern  de- 
mands may  lead  his  footsteps  far  away ;  a  new  home  may 
enwrap  his  life  with  ever-widening  tendrils  of  affection, 
and  still  the  old  spot  retains  its  preeminence  among  his 
purest,  tenderest  memories. 

The  present  volume  has  sprung  primarily  from  the 
conviction  that  the  history  of  Western   College   would 

5 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

enrich  all  her  children,  and,  secondly,  from  the  discovery 
that  the  pioneers  who  knew  the  early  history  were  fast 
passing  away  and  that  a  few  more  years  would  make  im- 
possible any  lifelike  story  of  those  early  days.  Formal 
records  of  the  pioneer  period  are  extremely  meager,  and 
personal  recollections  are  the  only  adequate  source  of 
information. 

An  effort  has  been  made  to  present  not  only  the  tangi- 
ble, visible  framework  of  external  facts  that  usually 
passes  as  history,  but  also  that  intangible,  unseen,  but 
very  real  inner  essence  of  history  made  up  of  spirit  and 
personality.  To  that  end  much  space  has  been  given  to 
the  personal  story  of  the  men  and  women  whose  lives 
have  gone  into  the  making  of  the  College ;  the  life  of  the 
College  is,  in  fact,  but  the  composite  of  such  personal 
lives  with  the  accidents  of  earth  and  time  refined  away. 

So  far  as  expedient,  the  authentic  record,  the  account 
of  an  eye  witness,  written  while  the  occurrence  was  still 
a  fresh  experience,  and  the  personal  recollections  of  some 
one  who  has  lived  through  the  old  scenes,  have  been  pre- 
sented just  as  the  historian  found  them,  in  order  to  give 
the  many-sided  points  of  view  that  add  worth  to  history. 

The  writing  of  any  history  is  a  difficult  task — the  writ- 
ing of  a  history  such  as  the  one  here  undertaken  fain 
would  have  been,  is  all  but  impossible.  The  priceless 
things  are  those  of  soul,  the  finer  fleeting  sensibilities,  the 
"mysterious  deeps  of  personality,"  and  the  myriad  mani- 
festations of  ever-lovable  human  nature.  These  things 
having  no  earthly  shell  leave  no  fossil  print  to  mark  the 
way  they  went.  The  historian  must  glean  from  a  hint 
here  and  a  delicate  influence  there,  and  must  infer  the 
rest.  Even  in  the  case  of  material  fact,  it  is  often  im- 
possible to  secure  adequate  information. 

6 


Foreword 

The  compiler  of  this  history,  therefore,  pleads  for 
indulgence  for  omissions  and  misjudgments.  He  has 
been  torn  between  the  desire  to  name  all  who  contributed 
in  a  characteristic  way  to  the  sum  we  prize  as  our  history, 
and  the  fear  to  name  any  lest  the  more  significant  act  and 
the  more  truly  representative  spirit  should  escape  notice 
and  thus  seem  to  have  been  underprized.  The  best  he 
has  been  able  to  do  is  to  present  only  those  names  and 
deeds  of  which  some  happy  fortune  left  traces  and  sent 
them  down  to  him,  or  that  by  lucky  chance  linger  in  his 
own  memory. 

Grateful  acknowledgement  is  made  to  Captain  E.  B. 
Soper,  Mrs.  S.  J.  Staves,  Honorable  T.  G.  Smith,  Dr. 
W.  T.  Jackson,  Professor  A.  W.  Drury,  Dr.  Lewis  Book- 
waiter,  Dr.  W.  I.  Beatty,  Mr.  J.  L.  Drury,  and  many 
others  for  valuable  data  supplied  and  for  numerous  rem- 
iniscences furnished.  Files  of  the  Western  College 
Advocate,  the  Western  College  Reporter,  and  Western 
College  Light,  the  Religious  Telescope,  the  Toledo  Chron- 
icle, the  Western  College  Catalogue,  and  the  minutes 
of  the  Board  of  Trustees  and  of  the  Executive  Commit- 
tee, have  also  been  of  much  service. 

H.  W.  W. 
Toledo,  Iowa,  April,  1911. 


(Unnttnta 


CHAPTER  I. 

Interest  in  the  Work  of  Higher  Education.  Founding  of  a 
College  Recommended  by  the  General  Conference  of 
1845.     Action  by  the  Iowa  Conference  1855 13 

CHAPTER  II. 

Preliminary  Steps  in  Selecting  a  Site.  Securing  Donations. 
The  Town  of  Western.  Erection  of  a  College  Building. 
The  Western  College  Advocate 23 

CHAPTER  III. 

Opening  Day  at  Western.  Small  Beginnings.  First  "Exhi- 
bition."    Manual  Labor.     Social  and  Religious  Life. . .  41 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Early  Founders.     Early  Teachers.     Early  Students 55 

CHAPTER  V. 
Early  Finances.     Agents.     Financial  Difficulties 98 

CHAPTER  VI. 

The  Patriotism  of  Western.  First  Enlistment.  In  War 
Times.  When  the  War  was  Over.  Western's  Roll  of 
Honor 110 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Dawn  of  a  New  Era.     President  E.  B.  Kephart.     Larger 

Attendance.     Increasing  Financial  Embarrassments..         125 

9 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Agitation  for  Relocation.  Causes  Leading  Thereto.  Pro- 
viding for  the  Old  Debt.  Seeking  a  new  Location. 
Proposition  from  Toledo.     The  Empty  Nest 117 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Reorganization  of  Faculty.  Opening  of  School  at  Toledo. 
Financial  Affairs.  M.  S.  Drury.  L.  H.  Bufkin. 
Teachers  and  Students.     President  Beardshear 161 

CHAPTER  X. 

Third  Crisal  Period.  Burning  of  Main  Building.  Grow- 
ing Financial  Embarrassments.  Internal  Life.  Crisis 
of  1893-94 186 

CHAPTER  XL 

President  Bookwalter  Elected.  Plan  of  Operation.  Faculty 
Secured.  Financial  Situation.  Internal  Growth.  Debt 
Paying  Campaign 213 

CHAPTER  XII. 

The  Next  Step.  Leander  Clark's  Proposition.  Delayed 
Hopes.  Inauguration  of  President  Kephart.  Endow- 
ment Campaign.  Major  Leander  Clark.  Semicen- 
tennial Celebration.     Internal  Affairs 278 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Another  Preliminary  Step.  President  F.  E.  Brooke.  Burn- 
ing of  Notes  and  Mortgages.  Internal  Affairs.  Quad- 
rennial   Celebration 312 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

A  Chapter  of  Miscellany.  Coeducation.  College  Publi- 
cations. Organizations.  Missionaries.  Transporta- 
tion.    Material   Equipment 332 

Appendix 349 

10 


HIlUtBtrathwH 

Rev.  Solomon  Weaver,  Frontispiece. 

Capt.  W.  H.  Shuey. 

Adam  Perry. 

Jacob  A.  Shuey. 

Rev.  J.  E.  Bowersox. 

First  College  Building  at  Western. 

First  College  Building  at  Toledo  After  the  Fire  of  1889 

Professor  Sylvester  S.  Dillman. 

Mrs.  Emily  L.  Dillman. 

Professor  M.  W.  Bartlett. 

W.  T.  Jackson. 

Mrs.  S.  J.  Staves. 

E.  R.  Smith,  M.  D. 

Hon.  W.  F.  Johnston. 

Faculty  of  1877. 

President  E.  B.  Kephart,  D.  D. 

Rev.  M.  S.  Drury. 

President  W.  M.  Beardshear. 

President  J.  S.  Mills. 

President  A.  M.  Beal. 

Hon.  E.  C.  Ebersole. 

Rev.  George  Miller.  D.  D. 

President  Lewis  Bookwalter. 

John  Dodds. 

Major  Leander  Clark. 

President  C.  J.  Kephart. 

Rev.  W.  T.  Beatty. 

Professor  E.  F.  Warren. 

Professor  W.  S.  Reese. 

Professor  B.  F.  McClelland. 

11 


Rev.  L.  H.  Bufkin. 

Rev.  N.  F.  Hicks. 

Rev.  R.  E.  Graves. 

Rev.  O.  G.  Mason. 

Jacob  Gutshall. 

A.  H.  Dolph. 

J.  K.  Hobaugh. 

Jennie  Mclntyre  Fletcher. 

S.  R.  Lichtenwalter. 

Adam  Shambaugh. 

Hon.  John  Shambaugh. 

Hon.  H.  J.  Stiger. 

President  Franklin  E.  Brooke. 

Burning  the  Last  Notes  and  Mortgages,  February  1,  1910. 

Professor  Henry  W.  Ward. 

Dr.  W.  O.  Krohn. 

Professor  E.  F.  Buchner. 

Judge  U.  S.  Guyer. 

Rev.  Willis  A.  Warren. 

Austia  Patterson  Shumaker. 

Rev.  I.  N.  Cain. 

Mrs.  I.  N.  Cain. 

Dr.  Mary  Archer. 

Administration  Building. 

President's  Office. 


12 


Chapter  I. 

INTEREST  IN  THE  WORK  OF  HIGHER  EDUCATION. 
THE  UNITED  BRETHREN  CHURCH  LATE  IN  AWAKEN- 
ING. FOUNDING  OF  A  COLLEGE  RECOMMENDED  BY 
THE  GENERAL  CONFERENCE  OF  1845.  AGITATION  IN 
SEVERAL  CONFERENCES.  ACTION  BY  THE  IOWA 
CONFERENCE,    1855. 

Although  Philip  William  Otterbein,  founder  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church,  had  been  profoundly  educated 
in  Germany,  both  in  general  letters  and  in  theology,  and 
many  of  his  associates  were  men  of  learning  and  culture, 
it  seems  not  to  have  occurred  to  these  fathers  that  higher 
education  was  any  part  of  the  work  designed  by  God  for 
the  newly  organized  church.  It  is  even  doubtful  whether 
at  first  there  was  any  thought  of  a  new  and  separate 
church  organization,  the  fathers  feeling  that  their  mission 
was  to  preach  the  flaming  gospel  of  personal  repentance 
and  intense  religious  experience  within  established 
churches  that  had  grown  lifeless  and  formal. 

To  them  the  all-important  thing  seemed  to  be  the  call- 
ing of  men  and  women  to  repentance  through  deep  con- 
viction for  sin,  and  when  this  was  accomplished  they 
seemed  to  think  their  work  was  done,  and  the  newly- 
quickened  believers,  whether  within  the  old  churches  or 
from  the  world,  were  left  to  find  fellowship  wherever 
they  might.  Only  after  years  of  dissatisfaction  with  the 
religious  life  about  them,  and  of  positive  persecutions  on 
the  part  of  the  churches,  did  these  holders  of  common 
religious  convictions  drift  together  into  a  new  religious 
fellowship.     Then  at  last  the  fathers  saw  the  necessity 

13 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

of  forming  a  new  church  organization  and  providing 
spiritual  shepherding  for  these  flocks.  Even  then  so 
little  importance  was  attached  to  mere  church  member- 
ship and  so  much  stress  laid  upon  personal  salvation  that, 
after  more  than  half  a  century  of  life  as  a  church,  during 
which  time  sweeping  revivals  won  converts  by  multiplied 
thousands,  the  actual  membership  of  the  church  barely 
reached  30,000. 

If  the  early  leaders  of  the  Church  gave  any  thought 
at  all  to  higher  education  in  connection  with  church  life, 
it  was  with  a  feeling  of  misgiving  or  positive  mistrust, 
since  the  wealthier  and  most  cultured  of  the  old  churches 
were  notoriously  the  most  worldly  and  spiritually  lifeless. 
Many  devout  men  feared  that  education  would  beget 
pride  and  would  tend  to  lessen  the  "unction  of  the  spirit," 
which  to  them  was  the  all-comprehensive  qualification  of 
the  gospel  preacher.  Besides,  the  appeal  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church  throughout  its  early  history  was  almost 
wholly  to  an  uneducated,  hard-headed  rural  folk,  who 
cared  only  that  their  religious  teachings  should  move  them 
mightily  by  its  fervor. 

After  the  Church  had  been  in  existence  for  nearly  fifty 
years  a  new  consciousness  began  to  take  hold  of  the  more 
thoughtful,  both  in  the  ministry  and  the  laity.  It  began 
to  be  felt  that  mere  church  membership  as  part  of  a  defi- 
nite organization  needed  to  be  more  emphasized,  and  that 
church  loyalty  and  even  a  degree  of  church  pride  could 
be  made  effective  in  spreading  the  gospel  message.  It 
was  further  seen,  partly  from  the  example  of  other 
churches,  that  institutions  of  learning  furnish  centers 
around  which  whole  districts  can  rally,  drawn  together 
by  the  bond  of  a  common  interest. 

The  final  consideration  that  led  the  United  Brethren 

14 


Interest  in  the  Work 

Church  to  espouse  higher  education  as  a  definite  depart- 
ment of  church  activity  was  the  instinct  of  self-preserva- 
tion. All  movements  in  human  society  experience  periods 
of  special  impetus  in  a  given  direction.  At  this  particular 
time  for  the  Protestant  churches  of  America — especially 
in  Ohio  where  the  United  Brethren  Church  was  strongest 
— there  was  an  unbounded  zeal  for  education,  a  zeal  that 
expended  itself  in  eagerly  founding  schools  and  colleges. 
To  these  schools  and  colleges  children  from  United 
Brethren  homes  went  for  their  education,  and  many  of 
them  entered  the  church  that  fostered  the  particular 
college  they  had  learned  to  love.  Young  men  educated 
in  those  colleges  naturally  found  their  way  into  the  min- 
istry of  those  churches.  To  meet  the  needs  of  the  times, 
and  especially  the  demands  of  the  future,  the  Church  saw 
that  it  must  provide  institutions  of  its  own  for  the  higher 
education  of  its  youth. 

The  first  official  step  toward  founding  an  institution  of 
learning  for  the  denomination  was  taken  by  the  ninth 
General  Conference  in  the  history  of  the  Church,  then  in 
session  at  Circleville,  Ohio,  in  May,  1845.  Rev.  E. 
Vandemark,  of  the  Scioto  Conference,  introduced  the 
subject  of  higher  education  to  the  attention  of  the  Gen- 
eral Conference  by  offering  the  following  resolutions: 

"Resolved,  That  proper  measures  be  adopted  to  estab- 
lish an  institution  of  learning." 

"Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  annual  con- 
ferences, avoiding,  however,  irredeemable  debts." 

After  long  and  earnest  discussion  the  resolutions  were 
adopted  by  a  vote  of  nineteen  yeas  to  five  nays. 

The  agitation  that  at  once  began  in  various  annual  con- 
ferences shows  that  many  local  leaders  were  impatiently 
waiting    for    just    such    authoritative    sanction.       What 

15 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

actually  happened  during  the  next  few  years  is  succinctly 
told  as  follows  in  the  address  of  Bishop  E.  B.  Kephart 
on  the  "History  and  Development  of  Education  in  Our 
Church,"  delivered  at  the  Frederick  General  Conference 
Centennial  Exercises : 

"Doubtless  it  was  the  thought  of  this  General  Confer- 
ence that  one  school  then  be  established  for  the  denomina- 
tion, and  when  we  note  the  fact  that  its  membership  did 
not  number  over  thirty  thousand  communicants,  it  will 
be  seen  that  the  thought  was  judicious  and  wise.  But 
the  Church  at  large  did  hot  heed  the  wisdom  of  this 
conference;  the  spirit  of  college  building  was  contagious. 
The  subject,  having  received  the  endorsement  of  the 
General  Conference,  it  was  at  once  taken  up  by  the  annual 
conferences  and  became  a  chief  topic  of  discussion  in 
those  bodies,  and  a  number  of  schools  were  hastily  pro- 
jected. The  years  1846  and  1847  were  prolific  in  our 
history  for  projecting  educational  institutions.  In  1846 
the  Miami  Conference  proposed  to  unite  with  the  con- 
ferences in  central  and  northern  Indiana  to  build  a  college 
in  Bluffton,  Indiana.  The  St.  Joseph  Conference  also 
fell  in  line  with  the  Miami,  but  the  project  failed.  In 
the  same  year  Scioto  Conference,  while  in  session  in 
Pickaway  County,  Ohio,  received  a  delegation  from  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  with  a  proposition  to  trans- 
fer Blendon  Young  Men's  Seminary,  located  at  Wester- 
ville,  to  the  conference,  if  the  conference  would  assume 
the  seminary  indebtedness,  which  amounted  to  $1,500. 
The  conference  accepted  the  proposition,  elected  a  Board 
of  Trustees,  and,  by  resolution,  invited  neighboring  con- 
ferences to  cooperate. 

"Early  in  1847  the  Indiana  Conference,  then  in  session, 
resolved  to  build  a  college,  either  in  Dublin  or  at  Wash- 

16 


'£981-9581  juapisajd  jsjij  pun  aSai[°3  ujaisaM  jo  japunoj  \smi\A 
H3AV3A\  NOI'VOIOS  "A3tf 


First  College  Building  at  Toledo  after  the  firt  oi  1889. 


Interest  in  the  Work 

ington,  in  that  State,  but  the  college  did  not  materialize. 
In  February  of  the  same  year  the  Allegheny  Conference 
resolved  to  build  a  college  in  Mt.  Pleasant,  Pa.,  or  Johns- 
town, Pa.  The  resolution  was  carried  into  effect.  The 
college  was  located  in  Mt.  Pleasant,  and  in  1850  Mt. 
Pleasant  College  opened  its  doors  for  the  reception  of 
students.  In  1849  the  Indiana  Conference  resolved  to 
open  a  seminary  in  Hartsville,  Indiana.  Subsequently 
the  White  River  Conference  indorsed  the  project,  and 
later  the  St.  Joseph  and  Wabash  conferences  for  a  time 
gave  it  nominal  support.  This  flattering  success  so  in- 
spired the  friends  of  the  seminary  that  they  changed  the 
name  of  the  school  to  Hartsville  University.  In  1853  the 
Illinois  Conference  established  Blandinville  Seminary,  in 
Blandinville,  Illinois.  Also  about  the  same  time  the 
Michigan  Conference  accepted  a  transfer  of  the  Michigan 
Union  College,  located  at  Leoni,  Michigan,  from  the 
Wesleyan  Methodist  Church.  Thus,  in  quick  succession, 
came  the  different  schools  in  our  educational  beginnings. 
The  location  of  many  of  these  schools  was  as  equally  un- 
wise as  their  number." 

The  ten  years  that  followed  the  General  Conference  of 
1845  witnessed  an  epoch  of  expansion  for  the  United 
Brethren  Church,  as  well  as  for  the  whole  region  lying  in 
the  central  Mississippi  Valley.  Ohio,  Indiana,  and  Illinois 
were  rapidly  becoming  populous,  and  a  tidal  wave  of  im- 
migration was  pouring  into  the  region  beyond  the  Missis- 
sippi greatly  increased  by  the  discovery  of  gold  in  Cali- 
fornia. Ohio  had  already  become  the  seat  of  United 
Brethrenism,  with  the  center  at  Circleville,  and  from  this 
center  operations  were  directed  with  a  view  to  possessing 
and  holding  for  the  Church  a  share  of  the  adjoining  terri- 
tory, especially  toward  the  west.     Almost  the  whole  story 

17 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

of  the  frontier  in  those  days  could  be  told  by  relating  in 
full  the  lives  of  the  pioneer  preachers,  either  sent  out  by 
the  various  Protestant  churches,  or  themselves  hurrying 
forward  in  their  eagerness  to  extend  the  outposts  of  Zion. 
When  that  complete  and  honorable  story  is  told,  it  will 
be  found  that  the  pioneer  preachers  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren Church  deserve  by  no  means  the  last  share  of  com- 
mendation and  praise.  The  circuit  rider  went  every- 
where looking  after  both  the  temporal  and  the  spiritual 
welfare  of  his  widely-scattered  flock.  The  presiding 
elder  traversed  larger  districts  at  less  frequent  intervals 
to  map  out  plans  of  campaigns,  to  select  strategic  points 
in  which  to  plant  churches,  and,  like  a  good  general,  to 
direct  all  the  operations  of  his  extended  line  of  battle. 
Following,  and  often  leading,  the  tide  of  immigration, 
these  devout  and  sturdy  pioneers,  traversed  and  occupied 
large  sections  of  Indiana  and  Illinois,  and  then  pushed  on 
across  the  Mississippi  into  Iowa  and  the  region  still 
farther  west. 

In  the  early  fifties  the  tide  set  in  strong  toward  Iowa, 
drawn  by  the  irresistible  lure  of  the  rolling  prairies  with 
their  fringes  of  woodland  and  stream.  The  Church  of 
the  United  Brethren  in  Christ  had  already  been  planted  in 
many  places  in  Iowa,  and  many  earnest  ministers  were 
laboring  zealously  in  behalf  of  the  chosen  denomination. 
Among  the  later  arrivals  were  a  few  men  who  had  been 
members  of  the  annual  conferences  farther  east  that 
responded  most  promptly  to  the  recommendations  of  the 
General  Conference  of  1845  at  Circleville,  urging  the 
founding  of  an  institution  of  learning  under  the  auspices 
of  the  Church.  A  leader  among  these  was  Rev.  Solomon 
Weaver,  who  came  to  Iowa  in  1855,  direct  from  the 
financial  agency  of  Otterbein  University,  a  position  to 

18 


Interest  in  the   Work 

which  he  could  have  been  drawn  only  by  a  burning  zeal  in 
behalf  of  higher  education  as  a  means  of  furthering  the 
kingdom  of  God  on  earth. 

Mostly  self-educated  and  keenly  conscious  of  the  ham- 
pering effects  of  the  lack  of  learning  upon  the  progress 
of  the  Church,  these  good  men  occasionally  indulged  in 
dreams  of  some  day  starting  a  high  school  or  college  west 
of  the   Mississippi,  but   the  majority  of  churchmen  in 
Iowa  thought  that  such  dreams  must  remain  idle  and  vis- 
sionary   for  many  years  to  come.      In  the  presence  of 
grave  doubts  on  the  part  of  the  few  advocates  of  a  church 
school  and  indifference  or  hostility  on  the  part  of  the 
majority,  no  attempt  was  made  to  crystallize  sentiment  in 
favor  of  such  an  undertaking  until  1855.      In  that  year, 
Rev.   Solomon  Weaver  came  to  Benton  County,  Iowa, 
and  took  up  work  in  the  Iowa  Conference.     Having  been 
intensely  interested  in  the  early  years  of  Otterbein  Uni- 
versity, and  having  served  for  a  short  time  as  its  financial 
agent,  Mr.  Weaver  came  to  Iowa  with  a  burning  zeal  for 
education  by  the  Church  and  an  abiding  conviction  that 
the  time  for  action  was  at  hand.     His  faith  in  a  possible 
kingdom  of  enlightened  Christian  ideals  was  almost  as 
sublime  as  that  of  Abraham,  who,  when  his  children  were 
few  and  wanderers  in  the  land  of  promise,  believed  the 
word  of  Jehovah  that  his  seed  should  become  as  numer- 
ous as  the  stars  of  heaven,  and  should  possess  all  the 
land  they  now  trod  upon,  and  should  fill  it  with  a  nation 
destined  to  be  a  blessing  to  all  mankind.      So  vital  a  part 
did  Rev.  Solomon  Weaver  take  in  establishing  and  main- 
taining a  church  school  in  Iowa  that  he  merits  the  honor 
of  being  regarded  as  the   founder  of  Western  College, 
and    for    that    deserves    the    grateful    remembrance    of 
posterity. 

19 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

At  the  session  of  the  Iowa  Conference,  held  in  Musca- 
tine, in  August,  1855,  the  sentiment  in  favor  of  taking  up 
educational  work  in  the  west  at  once  began  to  take  on 
more  unity  and  strength.  A  majority  of  the  members  of 
the  conference  looked  upon  the  proposal  to  build  a 
college  in  the  west,  under  the  auspices  of  the  United 
Brethren  in  Christ,  as  wholly  visionary.  Some  of  the 
more  progressive  were  inclined  to  look  with  favor  upon 
the  establishment  of  a  high  school  at  some  future  time, 
but  thought  action  now  would  be  premature.  A  very 
few  believed  that  the  time  was  at  hand  "to  launch  the 
ship." 

These  friends  of  the  movement  presented  to  the 
conference  a  resolution  to  set  aside  a  certain  hour  in 
which  to  consider  the  educational  interests  of  the  Church 
in  Iowa  and  plead  the  cause  so  earnestly  that  the  resolu- 
tions were  passed  without  strenuous  opposition.  At  the 
same  time  a  committee  of  three,  consisting  of  Solomon 
Weaver,  J.  J.  Huber,  and  M.  G.  Miller,  was  appointed 
to  prepare  a  plan  whereby  the  cause  of  education  might 
be  promoted  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  conference. 

At  the  hour  appointed  by  the  previous  resolution  a 
long  and  earnest  discussion  was  precipitated  by  the  con- 
cise, practical  report  of  the  committee  that  had  been 
charged  with  the  duty  of  presenting  a  plan  for  promoting 
the  educational  interests  of  the  Church  in  Iowa.  The 
committee,  with  characteristic  directness,  recommended, 
first,  the  election  of  a  Board  of  Trustees,  whose  duty  it 
should  be  to  select  a  site  for  the  location  of  a  college 
within  or  near  the  bounds  of  the  Iowa  Conference;  and, 
second,  the  appointment  of  a  traveling  agent  to  solicit 
funds  for  the  erection  of  a  primary  building.  All  this 
was  a  bold  proposal,  and  many  cautious  hearts  recoiled 

20 


Interest  in  the   Work. 

from  the  undertaking,  and  some  hostile  ones  opposed  it. 
Solomon  Weaver,  J.  C.  Bright,  Martin  Bowman,  and 
others  used  their  powers  of  persuasion  so  effectively  that 
the  recommendations  were  adopted  by  a  decisive  vote. 
The  election  of  a  Board  of  Trustees  resulted  in  the  choice 
of  Solomon  Weaver,  president ;  Martin  G.  Miller,  secre- 
tary ;  Joseph  Miller,  Daniel  Runkle,  and  Jonathan  Neidig. 
George  Miller  was  elected  traveling  agent.  A  committee 
was  then  appointed  to  define  more  fully  the  duty  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees.  The  committee  named  was :  J.  C. 
Bright,  chairman,  Martin  Bowman,  and  Solomon  Weaver. 
When  the  report  of  the  committee  was  presented  the 
latent  enthusiasm  for  the  new  college  had  risen  to  such 
a  pitch  that  the  report  was  promptly  adopted  by  a  unani- 
mous vote.  The  report,  somewhat  imperatively,  recom- 
mended that  the  Board  of  Trustees  be  required,  as  soon 
as  possible,  to  select  a  site  for  the  location  of  the  college 
in  as  convenient  a  place  as  possible  for  the  whole  Church 
in  Iowa;  and  in  the  selection  of  the  site,  that  the  Board 
of  Trustees  be  further  required  to  extend  an  invitation 
to  the  following  members  of  the  Des  Moines  Conference 
to  meet  the  Iowa  Board  in  selecting  a  site :  J.  DeMoss, 
George  Bonebrake,  Henry  Bonebrake,  A.  A.  Sellers,  and 
J.  Hopkins.  The  conference,  by  resolution,  voted  that 
the  institution  be  known  by  the  name  of  the  Western 
College  of  the  Church  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ, 
a  name  appropriate  enough  at  that  time,  as  the  college 
was  then  the  farthest  west  of  the  institutions  of  the 
Church. 

Thus  the  "ship  was  launched,"  to  the  satisfaction  of  all 
concerned,  and  the  members  of  the  conference  went  to 
their  fields  of  labor  ready  to  champion  the  new  enter- 
prise.    The  fact  that  they  did  not  fully  realize  the  vast- 

21 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

ness  of  the  task  to  which  they  were  committing  them- 
selves, as  compared  with  the  meagerness  of  their  re- 
sources, need  not  lessen  the  sublimity  of  their  faith  nor 
the  loyalty  and  purity  of  their  motives. 


22 


Chapter  II. 

SOME  PRELIMINARY  STEPS  IN  SELECTING  A  SITE. 
SECURING  DONATIONS.  THE  TOWN  OF  WESTERN. 
ERECTION  OF  A  BUILDING.  PLANS  FOR  OPENING 
SCHOOL.       WESTERN   COLLEGE   ADVOCATE. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Western 
College  was  held  at  Vinton,  Benton  County,  Iowa,  Octo- 
ber 15,  1855.  There  were  present,  Solomon  Weaver, 
Martin  G.  Miller,  Daniel  Runkle,  and  Jonathan  Neidig; 
absent,  Joseph  Miller.  Rev.  Asa  Coho,  being  present, 
was  invited  to  sit  as  an  advisory  member  of  the  Board. 
The  propriety  of  attempting  to  build  a  college  was  dis- 
cussed at  considerable  length,  and  then,  on  the  motion  of 
M.  G.  Miller,  the  Board  voted  unanimously  to  proceed 
in  accordance  with  the  instructions  of  the  conference  to 
select  a  site  for  the  College.  The  Board  passed  a  resolu- 
tion that  a  manual  labor  department  be  connected  with 
the  College;  it  was  then  decided  to  locate  two  hundred 
acres  for  the  college  buildings,  town,  and  farm.  Rev.  Geo. 
Miller,  in  consequence  of  ill  health,  tendered  his  resigna- 
tion as  traveling  agent,  which  resignation  was  accepted. 
As  several  offers  of  a  college  site  from  as  many  localities 
were  presented,  the  Board  adjourned  to  allow  the  mem- 
bers to  examine  the  sites  proposed ;  one  of  these  sites 
was  in  Benton  County,  one  in  Poweshiek  County,  one  in 
Linn  County. 

The  second  meeting  of  the  Board  was  held  in  Lisbon, 
Linn  County,  November  12,  1855.  Representatives  from 
the  various  local  communities  bidding  for  the  site  of  the 
College  were  present  with  the  proposals  of  said  commu- 

23 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

nities.  Several  representatives  requested  that  selection 
of  the  site,  be  deferred  a  month  or  two,  promising  that 
their  offers  could  in  that  time  be  swelled  to  double  the 
present  amount.  The  Board  accordingly  set  Monday, 
December  24,  as  the  time  for  a  final  hearing  of  proposals 
for  a  site.  Before  adjournment  the  Board  elected  its 
secretary,  Rev.  Martin  G.  Miller,  as  traveling  agent  of 
the  College  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  resignation 
of  Rev.  George  Miller;  the  salary  of  the  agent  was  fixed 
at  three  hundred  dollars  a  year.  It  was  also  decided  that 
immediately  after  the  location  should  be  chosen  a  resident 
agent  should  be  appointed,  whose  duty  it  should  be  to 
proceed  at  once  with  the  erection  of  a  substantial  brick 
building,  not  less  than  sixty-two  feet  long,  thirty-six 
feet  wide,  and  three  stories  high. 

During  the  intervals  between  the  adjournment  of  the 
Board  and  the  next  meeting  the  communities  interested  in 
securing  the  location  of  the  college  bestirred  themselves 
to  make  as  good  a  showing  as  possible.  The  people  of 
Shueyville  and  vicinity  were  especially  earnest  in  their 
efforts.  Father  Jacob  Shuey  and  his  sons,  all  laymen 
in  the  United  Brethren  Church,  generous-hearted  men 
and  devotedly  attached  to  their  Church,  took  the  lead  in 
making  donations  toward  the  enterprise  and  in  soliciting 
the  help  of  their  neighbors.  Adam  Perry,  John  W. 
Henderson,  and  W.  A.  Wherry,  none  of  them  at  the 
time  members  of  the  Church,  were  almost  equally  active 
and  generous,  giving  freely  gifts  of  land  and  money,  and 
aiding  by  their  interest  and  earnest  advocacy.  Among 
the  ministers,  Rev.  Solomon  Weaver  and  Rev.  J.  E. 
Bowersox  engaged  actively  in  the  securing  of  the  loca- 
tion for  Shueyville.  Donations  to  the  amount  of  six 
thousand  dollars  in  cash  and  lands  were  secured,  and 

24 


Some  Preliminary  Steps 

Captain  William  H.  Shuey  and  Jacob  A.  Shuey,  sons  of 
Father  Jacob  Shuey,  chief  donor,  were  commissioned  to 
carry  the  proposition  of  the  community  to  the  Board  at 
its  session,  to  be  held  in  the  Sugar  Creek  schoolhouse, 
December  24,  1855.  As  the  journey  of  these  brothers 
is  characteristic  of  the  difficulties  encountered  in  founding 
Western  College,  and  of  the  spirit  by  which  those  difficul- 
ties were  met  and  conquered,  it  deserves  fuller  narration. 

The  distance  from  Shueyville  to  Sugar  Creek  was 
about  thirty  miles,  and  that  distance  the  brothers  were 
constrained  to  traverse  on  foot,  as  the  snow  was  very 
deep  and  the  roads  all  but  impassable  for  teams.  The 
winter  of  1855-56  was  unusually  severe,  and  when  the 
journey  began  the  mercury  registered  thirty-three  degrees 
below  zero.  After  a  day  of  hard  struggling  through 
snowdrifts  and  exposure  to  biting  winds  and  bitter  cold, 
the  Shueys  stopped  at  a  new  frame  hotel  and  were  put 
into  an  unplastered  room  without  a  fire.  In  the  morn- 
ing Jacob  found  that  his  nose  had  been  severely  frozen. 
That  day,  December  24,  the  journey  was  continued  to  the 
Sugar  Creek  schoolhouse  where  the  proposition  of  the 
Shueyville  community  was  laid  before  the  Board. 

In  the  minutes  of  this,  the  third  regular  session  of  the 
Board,  appears  the  following  entry : 

"Inasmuch  as  William  H.  Shuey  has  presented  a 
proposition  to  this  Board  of  a  donation  of  six  thousand 
dollars,  provided  the  college  be  located  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Shueyville,  near  the  southwest  corner  of  Linn 
County,  Iowa ;  therefore, 

"Resolved,  That  we  locate  Western  College  near  the 
southwest  corner  of  Linn  County." 

Whether  other  propositions  were  presented  to  the  Board 
at  this  session  does  not  appear  from  the  records.     At  the 

25 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

same  session  the  Board  authorized  Father  Jacob  Shuey 
to  go  to  Virginia  to  borrow  $10,000  for  the  use  of 
Western  College.  Jacob  Miller,  on  account  of  ill  health, 
sent  in  his  resignation  as  a  member  of  the  Board,  and 
W.  H.  Shuey  was  elected  in  his  stead.  Solomon  Weaver 
was  appointed  a  committee  to  procure  articles  of  incor- 
poration for  the  College  in  accordance  with  the  Code  of 
Iowa. 

The  location  thus  chosen  was  on  the  open  prairie,  one 
mile  north  of  Shueyville.  It  lay  in  Section  34,  Putnam 
Township,  Linn  County.  The  site  consisted  of  240 
acres,  and  was  intended  to  furnish  land  for  the  College 
buildings  and  grounds,  the  town  that  was  expected  to 
spring  up  around  the  College,  and  the  College  nursery. 
Jacob  Shuey  donated  160  acres,  Adam  Perry  40  acres, 
and  W.  A.  Wherry  40  acres.  In  addition,  Jacob  Shuey 
gave  40  acres  of  timber  land  some  miles  away.  The 
motive  that  led  to  the  choice  of  such  a  location  for  a 
church  college  was  probably  twofold.  In  common  with 
many  churches,  the  founders  of  the  College  assumed  that 
Christian  education  could  best  be  secured  in  the  quiet  of 
the  country,  or  the  country  village  away  from  the  tempta- 
tions and  distractions  of  the  city.  Another,  and  perhaps 
stronger  motive,  was  the  hope  that  friends  of  the  enter- 
prise would  flock  in  and  build  homes  in  the  proposed 
town,  or  buy  up  the  adjacent  farm  lands  and  then  give  the 
college  a  thoroughly  friendly  environment  and  a  strong 
local  support.     This  hope  was  only  partially  realized. 

At  a  session  of  the  Board,  held  at  Shueyville,  February 
11,  1856,  plans  for  pushing  the  College  were  advanced 
in  several  important  particulars.  All  members  were 
present,  and  besides  nearly  all  the  leading  citizens  met 
with  the  Board,  drawn  together  by  the  deep  interest  the 

26 


Some  Preliminary  Steps 

undertaking  was  arousing.  All  such  citizens  and  friends 
were,  by  vote,  made  advisory  members  of  the  Board. 
Solomon  Weaver,  previously  appointed  for  that  purpose, 
presented  articles  of  incorporation,  the  corporation  cre- 
ated to  go  into  effect  March  1,  1856.  The  report  was 
adopted,  signed  by  the  proper  officers,  and  ordered  re- 
corded in  the  recorder's  office  of  Linn  County.  Solomon 
Weaver  was  elected  resident  agent  of  the  College,  the 
Board  defining  his  duties  as  follows :  To  take  charge  of 
all  the  property  belonging  to  the  College,  procuring 
material  for  a  primary  building,  and  superintending  the 
erection  of  said  building;  to  hold  all  bonds,  articles,  and 
deeds ;  to  sell  town  lots  and  the  property  belonging  to  the 
College ;  to  make  deeds  and  receive  purchase  money,  and 
report  in  full  to  the  treasurer  every  three  months,  his 
books  to  be  open  at  all  times  to  the  inspection  of  the 
Executive  Committee.  Rev.  J.  E.  Bowersox,  Captain 
William  H.  Shuey,  and  Rev.  Solomon  Weaver  were 
elected  the  first  Executive  Committee,  all  of  whom  served 
loyally  for  many  years. 

Those  present  at  this  meeting,  both  members  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees  and  visitors,  walked  north  from  Shuey- 
ville  one  mile  to  Section  34,  Putnam  Township,  the 
proposed  location  of  the  College,  to  make  the  formal 
selection  of  a  site  for  buildings  and  grounds. 

As  Jacob  A.  Shuey  remembers,  there  were  nineteen 
persons  present  on  this  memorable  occasion,  some  of  the 
names  recalled  being  Solomon  Weaver,  Martin  G.  Miller, 
Captain  W.  H.  Shuey,  Adam  Runkle,  and  Jonathan 
Neidig,  members  of  the  Board  of  Trustees ;  Father 
Jacob  Shuey,  Adam  Perry,  W.  A.  Wherry,  Robert  G. 
Shuey,  Jason  H.  Shuey,  J.  E.  Bowersox,  and  J.  A.  Shuey, 
interested  spectators.      Of  this  entire  company  only  two 

27 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

are  living,  R.  G.  Shuey  and  J.  A.  Shuey.  To  that  band 
of  earnest  men  there  must  have  come  some  glimmering 
sense  of  the  great  work  in  which  they  were  engaged, 
one  stage  of  which  this  day  marked,  a  work  not  so  great 
in  itself  as  in  the  reliant  faith  on  which  it  was  based 
and  the  unworldly  purity  of  its  aims  and  ideals.  Like 
the  Pilgrim  Fathers,  these  Iowa  pioneers  felt  the  solemn 
obligations  of  the  future  resting  upon  the  small  beginning 
of  the  present. 

The  particular  plot  of  ground  chosen  for  college  pur- 
poses was  an  elevated  prairie  commanding  a  view  of  the 
surrounding  country.  Near  the  center  of  this  plot  a 
campus  of  seventeen  acres  was  located,  and  one  of  the 
highest  points  on  the  campus  was  selected  as  the  site 
of  the  first  college  building.  When  this  choice  had 
been  made,  J.  A.  Shuey,  then  a  lad  in  his  teens,  went  to 
a  fence,  some  forty  rods  away,  secured  a  stake  and  set 
it  up  in  a  snowdrift  to  mark  the  place  where  the  build- 
ing was  to  be  erected.  This  done,  one  stage  of  the  plant- 
ing of  the  College  was  completed. 

Posterity  must  not  only  reverence  the  spirit  of  the 
founders  of  Western  College,  but  must  also  hold  their 
judgment  in  high  esteem  when  the  whole  situation  is 
looked  at  through  their  eyes  and  from  their  point  of  view. 
The  hopes  built  upon  the  advantages  of  the  location 
chosen  may  be  seen  from  the  following,  taken  from  the 
second  issue  of  the  Western  College  Advocate,  dated 
August,  1856: 

"No  city,  town,  or  village  in  Iowa  can  boast  of  a  finer 
surrounding  agricultural  region  than  Western  College. 
This  in  itself  is  sufficient  to  build  up  a  prosperous  and 
thriving  village;  and  the  large  bodies  of  fine  timber,  so 
convenient  to  the  town,  will  bear  us  out  in  the  opinion 

28 


Some  Preliminary  Steps 

that  this  must,  eventually,  be  one  of  the  wealthiest  farm- 
ing communities  in  the  State.  Its  location,  on  nearly  a 
direct  line  between  the  thriving  towns  of  Iowa  City  and 
Cedar  Rapids,  is  another  great  advantage  to  the  College. 
To  Iowa  City  there  is  a  railroad  in  successful  operation; 
by  next  year  there  will  be  one,  if  not  two,  railroads  com- 
pleted to  Cedar  Rapids  from  the  east.  It  seems  to  be  a 
settled  point  that  Iowa  City  and  Cedar  Rapids,  at  no 
distant  day,  will  be  connected  by  railroad,  and  there  is  a 
strong  probability  that  Western  College  will  be  a  point 
on  that  connection.  To  Iowa  City  there  is  a  good  wagon 
road  through  Shueyville,  Robert's  Ferry,  North  Bend, 
and  Clark's  Mills ;  and  a  more  direct  road  is  now  in  con- 
templation to  Cedar  Rapids. 

"The  material  for  manufacturing  a  superior  quality 
of  brick  is  convenient,  and  stone  for  lime  kilns  can  be 
had  in  great  abundance.  In  the  grove  south  of  the 
College,  Henderson,  Howard,  and  Myers  have  in  success- 
ful operation  one  of  the  best  saw  mills  in  the  country; 
they  are  now  connecting  with  it  a  flouring  mill.  In  the 
same  grove  is  Foremaster's  mill,  which  turns  out  large 
quantities  of  fine  lumber.  At  Shueyville,  close  by, 
Evans,  Shuey  and  Company  are  erecting  mills  for  the 
manufacture  of  lumber  and  flour.  Hoosier  Branch  on 
the  north  and  Shuey's  Branch  on  the  south  furnish  fresh, 
pure  water  for  stock,  and  our  wells  furnish  good,  cold 
water  for  man. 

"To  the  enterprising  farmer  and  mechanic  our  town 
and  vicinity  offer  rare  inducements.  Lands,  improved 
and  unimproved,  can  be  bought  on  reasonable  terms. 
Mechanics  of  all  kinds  are  much  in  demand  here.  A 
rich  reward  will  most  certainly  crown  their  honest  toil. 

"We  do  not  think  that  a  better  location  for  a  college 
could  have  been  selected  than  this;  and  we  do  hope  the 

29 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

Brethren  Church  in  Iowa  will  come  up  as  one  man  to  the 
support  of  Western  College.  Let  it  not  be  said  that  our 
Church,  in  this  State,  is  behind  the  age  in  education." 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  foregoing  that  the  founders 
had  something  on  which  to  build  their  hopes.  It  was  not 
their  fault  that  their  two  greatest  hopes — a  farming  com- 
munity for  miles  around  the  College,  made  up  of  staunch 
supporters  of  the  school,  and  a  railroad  from  Cedar 
Rapids  to  Iowa  City  passing  the  college  town — were 
doomed  to  disappointment.  It  was  but  another  instance 
of  the  perversity  of  fate  that  lands  about  Western  were 
soon  bought  up  and  occupied  by  a  foreign  population 
indifferent  to  the  College,  and  that  the  expected  railroad 
passed  three  miles  outside  the  college  town.  The  whole 
story  of  this  period  recalls  somewhat  pathetically  many 
of  life's  early  experiences  wherein  the  radiant  optimism 
of  youth  built  splendid  visions  and  then  saw  the  visions 
shrink  to  bare  and  hard  realities  of  small  proportions. 

As  soon  as  the  spring  of  1856  opened,  work  was  begun 
on  the  College  grounds  and  on  the  town  that  was  to 
grow  up  around  the  College.  Adam  Perry,  one  of  the 
donors  of  the  site,  an  experienced  surveyor,  laid  out  and 
platted  the  town.  The  close,  almost  organic,  connection 
that  was  expected  to  exist  between  the  College  and  the 
town  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that  "Western  Col- 
lege" was  chosen  for  the  name  of  both,  a  name  which  the 
post  office  at  that  place  bears  to  this  day.  Lots  were 
offered  for  sale  at  once  and  seemed  to  have  sold  at  a 
satisfactory  rate,  thereby  putting  needed  cash  into  the 
College  treasury.  It  is  interesting  to  trace  the  growth 
of  the  town,  as  that  growth  is  recorded  in  successive 
issues  of  the  Western  College  Advocate.  In  the  first 
number,  July,  1856,  appears  the  following: 

30 


Some  Preliminary  Steps 

"The  seat  of  Western  College  was  laid  off  some  two 
months  ago.  There  are  now  seven  buildings  and  several 
others  on  the  way.  All  is  life  and  stir.  The  axe,  ham- 
mer, saw,  and  plane  keep  up  a  noise  all  the  time.  To 
this  we  have  no  objection,  only  that  it  cuts  short  our 
sweet  repose  in  the  morning.  But  then  the  people  must 
have  homes.  From  fifty  to  sixty  lots  have  already  been 
sold  at  fifty  dollars  per  lot.  One-half  at  least  will  be 
built  on  this  season,  and  the  prospect  is  that  by  the  middle 
of  December  the  bell  on  our  primary  building  will  salute 
the  ears  of  the  citizens  of  Western,  and  students  will  be 
seen  responding  to  its  call  in  almost  every  direction." 

In  the  August  number :  "There  are  now  sixteen  houses 
in  Western,  with  a  population  of  one  hundred  inhabitants. 
This  speaks  well  for  a  town  four  months  old.  Eighty 
village  lots  have  been  sold  at  fifty  dollars  each,  and  ten 
out-lots,  containing  an  acre  each,  at  one  hundred  apiece. 
This  throws  into  the  treasury  of  the  school  the  nice  little 
sum  of  five  thousand  dollars." 

In  the  November  number :  "Our  village  is  still  grow- 
ing. There  are  now  twenty-five  houses  in  Western,  with 
a  population  of  about  one  hundred  and  seventy.  Our 
sale  of  lots  now  amounts  to  some  nine  thousand  dollars. 
The  principal  part  of  the  lots  sold  will  be  built  upon 
through  the  course  of  the  next  summer.  We  hope  that 
it  is  now  settled  that  Western  is  destined  to  become  a 
respectable  business  place,  and  we  are  very  sanguine  in 
the  opinion  that  it  will  never  become  a  rum  depot,  a 
gambling  saloon,  or  a  ball  chamber.  The  following 
clause  is  incorporated  in  all  deeds:  'Provided  always, 
That  if  said  A.  B.  shall  give,  sell,  or  cause  to  be  given  or 
sold,  any  spirituous  liquors  as  a  beverage,  or  permit  any 
species  of  balls  or  gambling  on  said  premises,  then  this 

31 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

indenture  shall  be  void  and  without  effect  and  with  all 
singular  to  fall  back  into  the  hands  of  the  grantor  of  the 
deed,  otherwise  to  be  of  full  force  and  virtue.'  " 

July,  1857 :  "There  are  now  forty  buildings  in  the 
place,  with  a  population  of  about  three  hundred.  It  is 
only  about  one  year  since  the  town  commenced  building." 

In  the  meantime  the  resident  agent  and  the  Executive 
Committee,  under  instructions  from  the  Board,  were  push- 
ing the  work  of  erecting  a  building  in  which  to  open 
school.  It  had  been  decided  that  the  first  to  be  erected 
should  be  the  Primary  Building,  a  brick  structure  36  by 
62  feet,  and  three  stories  high.  Actual  work  on  the 
building  was  begun  in  June,  1856.  The  first  load  of 
brick  was  hauled  by  Robert  Shuey.  Leonard  Hill  had 
charge  of  the  mason  and  brick  work,  and  J.  Berger  of  the 
carpenter  work.  It  was  hoped  to  have  the  building  ready 
for  opening  school  in  the  late  autumn,  but  unavoidable 
delays  prolonged  the  work,  and  then  a  winter  of  great 
severity  set  in  early,  and  at  one  time  led  even  the  stout- 
hearted almost  to  despair  of  being  able  to  open  school 
with  the  new  year.  However,  by  dint  of  persistent  labor 
and  no  little  expense,  the  work  was  so  far  advanced  that 
the  triumphant  announcement  could  be  made  that  school 
would  open  January  1,  1857. 

The  Cedar  Valley  Times,  published  at  Cedar  Rapids, 
gives  the  following  excellent  description  of  the  College, 
the  town,  and  the  surrounding  country : 

"A  few  days  since  we  stood  upon  the  top  of  the  College 
building — a  large  three-story  brick — and  looked  down 
upon  a  village  of  forty-three  dwelling  houses  and  more 
than  three  hundred  inhabitants.  It  stands  in  a  yard 
containing  seventeen  acres,  and  is  designed  eventually  for 
the  Primary  Department,  but  until  the  other  buildings 

32 


PROFESSOR  SYLVESTER  S.  DILLMAN,  A.M. 
First  Professor  of  Mathematics  in  Western  College,  1857  to  1860. 


MRS.  EMILY  L.  DILL  MAX 
First  Lady  Principal  of  Western  College. 


Some  Preliminary  Steps 

are  erected,  this  will  be  used  for  the  College  proper.  It 
is  built  of  brick,  in  a  plain,  neat  style,  and  everything 
about  it  indicates  that  the  workmen  thoroughly  under- 
stood their  business.  The  first  story  is  occupied  by  four 
recitation  rooms,  each  eighteen  by  twenty-two  feet,  a 
library,  and  a  room  for  apparatus.  The  whole  of  the 
second  story  is  taken  up  by  a  very  pleasant  chapel,  which 
can  comfortably  seat  five  hundred  persons.  It  is  used 
for  religious  service  on  Sabbath.  The  fact  that  it  is 
generally  filled  on  these  occasions  speaks  well  for  the 
morals  of  the  town  and  the  community.  The  third  story 
is  occupied  by  twelve  students'  rooms.  It  is  designed 
next  summer  to  build  a  ladies'  boarding  hall  of  the  same 
dimensions  as  the  building  just  described,  and  a  year 
from  next  summer  the  main  College  building,  which  is 
to  be  fifty  by  eighty  feet.  The  project  of  making  the 
place  an  educational  center  now  seems  likely  to  realize  the 
most  sanguine  expectations  of  its  friends.  The  second 
college  season  opens  to-day  (August  20),  at  which  time 
a  great  number  of  students  are  expected.  Besides  a  large 
amount  of  town  property,  the  College  corporation  owns  a 
valuable  tract  adjoining  the  plat,  which  is  intended  for 
the  College  farm,  as  the  manual  labor  system  is  to  be 
adopted.  No  small  share  of  the  success  thus  far  is 
due  to  the  untiring  energy  and  zeal  of  the  president  of 
the  corporation,  Rev.  S.  Weaver. 

"The  top  of  the  College  building  affords  one  of  the 
most  glorious  views  of  prairie  scenery  it  has  ever  been 
our  lot  to  witness.  To  the  westward  and  the  northward, 
almost  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  is  the  magnificent, 
rich,  wild  prairie,  stretching  away  into  an  endless  expanse, 
but  for  the  low,  blue  outline  of  the  forest  belts  of  the 
Cedar   and   Iowa   rivers.       In   the   other   directions   the 

33 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

country  is  more  broken  by  low  lines  of  hills  or  ridges, 
running  north  and  south,  and  the  landscape  is  varied  by 
numerous  groves  and  forests  which  limit  the  view. 
One  of  the  finest  and  most  interesting  features  of  this 
beautiful  scenery  was  a  field  of  nine  hundred  acres  of 
wheat  and  corn  belonging  to  Mr.  Shuey.  We  believe 
many  an  eastern  farmer  would  feel  himself  well  paid 
for  a  journey  to  Iowa  by  such  a  view  as  this. 

"The  Iowa  Union  Railroad,  from  Iowa  City  to  Cedar 
Rapids,  will  pass  through  Western,  giving  the  place  a 
good  market  and  making  it  convenient  of  access.  The 
preliminary  survey  of  this  road  was  completed  about  a 
month  ago.  It  will  undoubtedly  be  built,  and  at  no 
distant  day. 

"No  one  expects  or  predicts  that  Western  will  ever  be- 
come a  large  city,  but  with  the  superior  educational  ad- 
vantages she  already  possesses,  her  intelligent,  go-ahead 
class  of  citizens,  the  splendid  surrounding  country,  which 
is  rapidly  settling  up,  and  a  good  prospect  of  railroad 
communication,  she  cannot  fail  to  become  a  large,  flour- 
ishing country  town." 

In  the  month  of  June,  W.  H.  Shuey  and  Solomon 
Weaver  associated  themselves  together  for  the  purpose 
of  publishing  a  monthly  magazine  in  the  interests  of 
Western  College,  they  assuming  all  responsibility  for  the 
publication.  In  the  initial  number,  published  in  July, 
1856,  the  editors  make  the  following  manly  statements 
of  their  motives  and  aims : 

"Before  the  reading  public  we  place  the  first  number 
of  the  Western  College  Advocate  and  Miscellaneous 
Magazine,  and  in  asking  for  our  enterprise  a  small  share 
of  its  generous  patronage  and  good  wishes,  it  may  be 
proper  for  us  to  say  a  few  words  by  way  of  introduction. 

34 


Some  Preliminary  Steps 

"At  the  last  session  of  the  Iowa  Annual  Conference 
of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ  measures  were  taken 
to  establish,  near  or  within  the  limits  of  that  Conference, 
an  institution  of  learning.  A  Board  of  Trustees  was 
appointed  and  Western  College  has  been  located  at  West- 
ern, Linn  County,  Iowa.  As  to  the  progress  that  has 
already  been  made  toward  building  up  a  college  that  will 
be  an  honor  to  the  Church  and  meet  fully  the  wants  of 
this  age  of  scientific  and  educational  progress  and  reform, 
reference  is  made  in  one  or  two  articles  in  this  issue. 

"Although  there  is  every  reason  for  the  friends  of  the 
College  to  rejoice  at  the  success  that  has  already  crowned 
the  efforts  made  in  its  behalf,  yet  much  remains  to  be 
done.  An  organ  through  which  to  speak  to  the  friends 
of  the  institution,  seems  to  be  absolutely  necessary;  its 
speedy  completion  should  be  the  desire  of  all  its  well 
wishers,  but  to  do  this  will  require  a  strong,  a  mighty 
effort.  In  the  Advocate  we  propose  to  furnish  the  organ 
desired,  and  when  we  ask  for  support,  it  is  not  through 
any  motives  of  personal  pecuniary  profit ;  we  pledge  our- 
selves to  give  the  net  proceeds  to  the  enterprise  as  an 
appropriation  to  a  college  library.  Our  readers  now 
have  a  brief  statement  of  the  circumstances  that  have 
induced  us  to  assume  the  responsibility  of  an  editorial 
capacity. 

"As  to  the  character  we  intend  to  give  our  sheet,  our 
readers  may  form  some  general  opinions  from  the  cir- 
cumstances that  induce  us  to  go  into  the  enterprise,  and 
from  the  issue  before  them.  We  do  not  deem  it  neces- 
sary to  make  any  promises.  To  gratify  the  virtuous 
tastes  of  our  readers,  and  to  present  to  them  a  readable 
magazine,  scrupulously  moral  in  its  tone,  shall  be  our 
aim." 

35 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

The  publication  was  in  magazine  form,  and  filled  with 
selected  readings,  original  contributions,  news  notes,  and 
editorials.  Both  in  mechanical  makeup  and  in  subject 
matter  the  magazine  was  not  only  a  credit  to  early  days, 
but  would  compare  favorably  with  many  college  publica- 
tions of  to-day.  The  excellence  of  the  magazine  demands 
the  greater  admiration  when  it  is  learned  that  the  editors 
received  no  remuneration  except  the  satisfaction  of  con- 
tributing to  a  worthy  cause,  and  that  both  were  overbur- 
dened with  other  duties,  Mr.  Shuey  being  so  immersed  in 
business  that  he  could  give  little  attention  to  the  Advocate, 
and  Mr.  Weaver  being  president  of  the  Board,  and  later 
of  the  College,  resident  agent,  and  business  manager  of 
the  College,  member  of  the  Executive  Committee,  besides 
caring  for  a  large  presiding  elder's  district  in  a  new 
country.  He  has  intimated  that  his  editorial  duties  were 
performed  when  the  multitude  was  hushed  in  sleep ; 
that  then  with  weary  limb  and  mind  he  seated  himself 
beside  the  dim  taper  to  force  out  a  few  reluctant  thoughts. 

One  year  after  the  Advocate  was  started,  the  Board,  at 
its  first  annual  session  in  June,  1857,  took  over  the  con- 
trol of  the  magazine  and  made  it  the  official  organ  of  the 
College,  retaining,  however,  the  same  editors  as  before. 
This  arrangement  continued  until  1859,  at  which  time  the 
College  bought  a  press,  changed  the  name  of  the  paper 
to  the  Western  College  Reporter,  and  the  form  to  a  news- 
paper folio. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Board,  held  in  July,  1856,  Solomon 
Weaver  was  appointed  a  delegate  to  the  Des  Moines 
Conference  to  solicit  it  to  cooperate  with  Western  College. 
Mr.  Weaver  visited  the  conference,  in  session  at  Polk 
City,  and  secured  its  cooperation.  A  few  passages  from 
his  report  will  be  of  interest,  especially  that  part  which 

36 


Some  Preliminary  Steps 

shows   how   narrowly   the   Church   escaped  having  two 
rival  colleges  in  Iowa. 

"There  is  considerable  talk  about  building  a  college  in 
Polk  City,  yet  we  believe  that  if  the  impropriety  of  build- 
ing up  such  a  host  of  one-horse,  half-starved  schools  is 
properly  presented  that  this  conference  will  most  heartily 
cooperate  with  the  Iowa  Conference  in  building  up  a 
school  that  will  be  an  ornament  to  the  church  of  our 
choice.  A  resolution  passed  the  house  setting  apart  Fri- 
day, three  o'clock,  to  consider  their  educational  interests. 
"Thursday  afternoon.  The  idea  of  building  a  college 
in  this  place  is  still  fondly  cherished  by  a  number  of  the 
brethren.  Mr.  Bennet,  M.  D.,  though  not  a  member  of 
the  Brethren  Church,  has  made  the  brethren  a  liberal 
offer,  provided  they  would  locate  their  college  there. 

"Thursday  evening.  Brother  Manning  preached  a 
clear  and  practical  discourse.  He  very  appropriately 
gave  the  peculiar  institution  a  broadside,  as  he  passed 
along,  but  none  too  broad  we  think. 

"Friday,  three  o'clock.  A  resolution  to  cooperate  with 
the  Iowa  Annual  Conference  in  building  a  college  at 
Western,  Linn  County,  Iowa,  was  offered  by  Brothers 
Dencops  and  Eckles,  and  discussed  by  Brothers  Shuler, 
Carr,  Harcourt,  Glossbrenner,  and  myself,  on  the  affirma- 
tive, and  Doctor  Bennet,  Brothers  Hopkins,  and  Brooks, 
on  the  negative ;  after  which  the  question  was  called  for, 
and,  when  put,  the  conference  almost  unanimously  passed 
the  resolution. 

"The  following  brethren  were  then  elected  trustees  for 
Western  College:  J.  Hopkins,  H.  Bonebrake,  G.  Bone- 
brake,  C.  Witt,  A.  A.  Sellers. 

"The  Board  of  Trustees  organized  by  acquiescing  with 
the  Iowa  Annual  Conference  in  the  election  of  S.  Weaver, 

37 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

president  of  the  Board  and  resident  agent,  and  W.  R. 
Miller,  secretary.     R.  Logan  was  elected  traveling  agent." 

Rock  River  Conference  came  into  cooperation  soon 
after,  followed  some  time  later  by  Minnesota,  and  still 
later  by  Wisconsin. 

The  next  meeting  of  the  Board,  the  first  in  which  the 
Des  Moines  Conference  participated,  was  held  at  West- 
ern, October  9,  1856.  At  this  session,  Solomon  Weaver 
was  elected  president  of  the  College,  and  the  Executive 
Committee  and  the  resident  agent  were  instructed  to  em- 
ploy a  competent  teacher  and  open  the  school  as  soon  as 
a  part  of  the  building  could  be  made  ready  for  the 
purpose.  So  far  as  the  Board  was  concerned,  this  ended 
the  preliminary  stages  of  its  work;  when  next  it  met  it 
was  in  the  first  annual  session,  June,  1857,  at  the  close 
of  the  first  term  of  actual  school  work. 

In  the  December  issue  of  the  Western  College  Advo- 
cate appears  the  following  announcement  and  statement 
of  rules,  all  most  interesting,  both  as  showing  the  condi- 
tion of  the  time,  and  proving  that  the  fathers  took  the 
undertaking  very  seriously : 

"The  first  session  of  the  school  commences  at  Western, 
January  1,  1857,  and  will  continue  until  some  time  in 
June.  Students  are  requested  to  be  present,  if  possible, 
at  the  opening  of  the  session.  They  can  be  received  at 
any  time  afterwards,  yet  it  is  desirable  for  them  to  be 
present  in  the  commencement. 

"Note — This  session  will  be  longer  than  an  ordinary 
one. 

"sessions  and  vacations. 

"The  collegiate  year  will  be  divided  into  two  sessions, 
each  twenty  weeks  in  length.  The  regular  time  for  com- 
mencing sessions,  etc.,  will  be  determined  by  the  faculty 

38 


Some  Preliminary  Steps 

and  Executive  Committee  immediately  after  the  organi- 
zation of  the  former. 

"expenses. 
Tuition,  per  session — Geography,  English  Gram- 
mar, and  Arithmetic $  7.00 

Higher     Branches,     including     Mathematics     and 

Natural  Science   10.00 

Languages  and  Mental  and  Moral  Science 12.00 

Boarding,   per   week,    including   room    rent,    fuel, 

etc 2.50 

"Young  ladies  and  gentlemen  are  respectfully  solicited 
to  avail  themselves  of  the  privileges  of  Western  College. 
"Note. — Text-books  can  be  had  at  the  institution. 
"Tuition  invariably  in  advance,  unless  special  arrange- 
ments are  made  with  the  agent.      No  deduction  will  be 
made  for  absence,  except  in  case  of  protracted  sickness. 

"rules. 

"The  students  of  this  institution  are  expected  to  observe 
the  following  rules:  1.  To  be  diligent  in  study,  punctual 
and  prompt  at  prayers  and  recitations  and  not  to  leave 
town  during  the  term,  unless  for  a  short  walk  or  ride  for 
recreation,  without  permission  from  some  member  of  the 
faculty. 

"2.  To  use  no  profane  or  unbecoming  language ;  to 
abstain  from  all  games  of  chance,  the  carrying  of  arms, 
and  the  use  of  intoxicating  liquors  ;  to  conduct  themselves 
orderly  on  all  occasions ;  and  to  be  kind  and  obliging, 
one  toward  another. 

"3.  To  be  present  at  their  rooms  at  night,  unless 
absent  at  religious  meetings,  or  some  other  meeting  ap- 
proved by  the  faculty ;  and  then  not  to  be  absent  later 
than  ten  o'clock. 

39 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

"4.  To  observe  the  Sabbath  and  attend  church  in  the 
College  Chapel  every  Sabbath  at  such  times  as  the  Board 
of  Trustees  and  faculty  may,  from  time  to  time,  direct. 
It  is  also  required  that  the  students  attend  all  lectures 
designed  for  the  general  interest  of  the  College. 

"5.  At  no  time  to  engage  in  scuffling,  running,  jump- 
ing, or  hallooing  in  the  halls  of  the  building. 

"6.  Not  to  throw  dirt,  or  ashes,  or  water  from  the 
windows ;  not  to  spit  tobacco  spittle  upon  the  floors ;  not 
to  mark  the  walls,  nor  in  any  way  injure  the  property  of 
the  University. 

"7.  Not  unnecessarily  to  visit  each  other's  rooms  dur- 
ing study,  or  in  any  way  disturb  students  when  studying. 

"8.  The  sexes  not  to  visit  each  other's  rooms  or  halls 
in  any  case  whatever. 

"9.  Ladies  not  to  receive  the  visits  of  young  gentle- 
men, nor  go  into  company  without  special  permission. 

"Study  hours  from  5  to  7,  and  from  half  past  8  to 
half  past  11  a.m. ;  and  from  1  to  4,  and  from  7  to  9  p.m. 

"Some  oral  rules  may,  from  time  to  time,  be  given  to 
the  students.  These  will  be  considered  as  binding  as 
written  or  printed  ones." 


40 


Chapter  III. 

OPENING  DAY  AT  WESTERN.  SMALL  BEGINNINGS. 
FIRST  "EXHIBITION."  MANUAL  LABOR.  SOCIAL  AND 
RELIGIOUS  LIFE. 

New  Year's  Day,  1857,  was  a  red-letter  day  for  the 
United  Brethren  Church  in  Iowa  in  general  and  in  par- 
ticular for  the  two  or  three  hundred,  who,  as  a  Pilgrim 
band  seeking  a  promised  land,  had  already  established 
themselves  in,  and  near  Western.  The  long  looked-for 
day  had  come,  their  dreams  had  become  realities,  the 
opening  day  of  college  had  actually  arrived.  What  cared 
they  that  a  winter  of  unusual  severity  was  upon  them 
with  some  of  the  most  sweeping  snow  storms  ever  ex- 
perienced on  those  prairies.  From  every  direction  they 
came  for  the  opening  exercises — from  Western,  from 
Shueyville,  from  the  prairies — all  Jerusalem,  all  Judea, 
and  all  the  region  round  about  Jordan.  There  was  not 
wanting  the  inspiration  of  music.  The  Shueyville  Band 
— that  necessity  in  a  frontier  community — was  present  in 
force  and  did  the  occasion  justice.  The  Western  Choir — 
fitting  prophecy  of  the  musical  culture  to  center  here — 
"frequently  regaled  us  by  appropriate  airs  and  songs." 
Several  addresses  were  delivered,  the  principal  one  being 
by  President  Weaver.  This  address  so  pleased  the  people 
that  at  its  close  the  following  resolution  was  offered  and 
heartily  passed : 

"Resolved,  That  we,  the  citizens  of  this  community, 
earnestly  solicit  Rev.  S.  Weaver  to  publish  the  address  to 
which  we  have  just  listened  in  the  Western  College 
Advocate." 

41 


Opening  Day  at  Western 

As  a  tribute  to  the  man  and  to  the  occasion  and  spirit 
in  which  the  College  began  its  life,  that  address  is  worthy 
of  a  place  in  this  history ;  consequently  we  give  the  open- 
ing portion  as  it  appeared  in  the  Advocate  of  January, 
1857. 

"Ladies  and  Gentlemen  :  For  the  last  several  months 
we  looked  forward  to  this  day  with  great  anxiety.  With 
thrilling  interest  we  watched  our  faithful  masons  handling 
the  trowel  and  the  brick.  Every  course  laid  up  by  them 
was  a  source  of  encouragement  to  us.  With  equal  inter- 
est have  we  watched  every  progressive  step  of  our  untir- 
ing carpenters. 

"At  length  we  are  permitted  to  see  this  capacious 
edifice  enclosed  and  the  work  almost  completed.  Greater 
harmony,  perhaps,  never  prevailed  among  workmen  and 
employers  than  among  us.  Not  a  single  jarring  string 
has  been  heard ;  one  heart  and  one  aim  has  prevailed 
throughout. 

"True,  we,  like  all  others  engaged  in  enterprises  of  a 
benevolent  and  philanthropic  character,  have  waded 
through  many  discouragements.  Difficulties  and  dis- 
heartening circumstances  have  crowded  upon  us  all  along 
the  way,  yet  God,  in  whom  we  trust,  has  not  suffered  us 
to  sink. 

"A  short  time  since,  dark  clouds  overspread  our  moral 
horizon,  wickedness  prevailed  predominant,  our  strongest 
men  grew  weak,  the  very  heavens  appeared  like  brass. 
Then  we  were  ready  to  say,  'Lord,  we  cannot  go  unless 
thou  go  with  us' ;  but  at  this  crisis  the  Lord  favored  us 
with  a  general  outpouring  of  his  spirit.  Scarcely  a  lady 
or  gentleman  of  the  place  escaped  the  overpowering  in- 
fluence of  the  spirit  of  God.  This  possessed  us  with  new 
courage ;  we  could  most  clearly  see  the  hand  of  the  Lord 

42 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

in  the  work.  Since  that  time,  until  now,  we  have  gone 
forward  with  buoyant  spirits,  prosecuting  the  work  as- 
signed us. 

"In  looking  at  our  present  condition  it  would  be  im- 
possible for  us  to  tell  what  we  may  be  in  the  future.  It 
is  certain,  however,  that  as  long  as  we  labor,  trusting  in 
God,  the  work  will  go  forward ;  but  to  depart  from  this 
is  to  die. 

"Our  success  thus  far,  in  view  of  the  circumstances, 
is  almost  unparalleled ;  our  most  sanguine  hopes  have 
been  more  than  realized. 

"But  a  few  months  since  the  Board  met  in  Shueyville, 
and  then  and  there  determined  to  commence  the  erection 
of  an  institution  of  learning  on  this  beautiful  prairie, 
though  without  one  dollar  in  the  treasury.  Then  that 
old,  wind-shaken  house,  now  occupied  by  the  speaker,  was 
the  only  house  within  the  precincts  of  the  village  plat. 
Not  a  single  brick  was  moulded  toward  the  erection  of 
this  building ;  all  was  in  embryo.  But  with  a  firm  reliance 
upon  God  the  Board  resolved  to  commence  the  work. 
Since  then  a  beautiful  little  village  of  some  two  hundred 
inhabitants  has  grown  up,  and  this  building,  at  a  cost  of 
nearly  eleven  thousand  dollars,  has  been  erected.  It  is 
true  that  a  part  of  the  money  invested  in  this  building 
was  secured  by  loan,  yet,  notwithstanding  this,  every 
claim  against  this  school  can  be  easily  met  by  next  sum- 
mer, after  which  the  actual  value  of  the  school  property 
will  be  not  less  than  thirty  thousand  dollars. 

"But  the  erection  of  buildings  is  only  a  preparatory 
step  toward  the  great  work  before  us.  The  training  and 
developing  of  immortal  minds  for  usefulness  is  the  prin- 
cipal object  aimed  at.  Should  we  fail  in  this,  even  after 
we    succeed   in   erecting   splendid   buildings,    furnishing 

43 


Opening  Day  at  Western 

them  with  fine  apparatus,  and  adding  to  this,  a  learned 
faculty,  all  our  efforts  would  be  lost.  The  student 
generally  enters  college  at  an  age  when  the  mind  is 
more  susceptible  of  receiving  instruction  and  adopting 
principles  than  at  any  other  period  of  human  life ;  hence, 
the  impressions  made  upon  the  mind  at  college  usually 
follow  him  through  life." 

The  faculty  for  the  first  term  consisted  of  Rev.  Solo- 
mon Weaver,  president  (he,  however,  did  no  teaching, 
except  a  Bible  class  on  Monday)  ;  Sylvester  S.  Dillman, 
principal  of  the  Male  Department ;  J.  C.  Shrader,  assist- 
ant; and  Emily  L.  Dillman,  principal  of  the  Female 
Department. 

Thirty-eight  students  were  enrolled  in  the  regular 
classes,  mainly  in  the  common  school  branches.  In  addi- 
tion, twenty  children  were  taught  in  the  College  building, 
presumably  by  the  College  teachers,  a  temporary  provision 
brought  about  by  the  fact  that  Western  did  not  yet  have 
a  public  school,  and  by  the  peculiarly  intimate,  almost 
organic,  relation  existing  between  College  and  town. 
These  were  small  beginnings,  to  be  sure,  but  many  great 
institutions  have  sprung  from  conditions  quite  as  humble. 

An  editorial  in  the  Advocate,  dated  March,  1857, 
showed  the  hopeful  spirit  in  which  the  little  community 
looked  upon  the  progress  of  her  undertaking.  Two  items 
of  special  interest  are :  The  ever-elusive  hope  of  a  rail- 
road in  the  near  future,  and  the  assuring  reference  to  the 
College  farm  with  its  possibilities  for  student  labor. 

"Since  the  weather  has  become  moderate,  it  is  all  stir 
among  our  citizens.  Our  mechanics  have  whetted  their 
tools  and  the  welcome  sound  of  the  hammer  is  again 
heard  throughout  the  village.  Teamsters  have  hitched 
to  their   rolling  vehicles   instead   of   their   sliding  ones, 

44 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

and  there  is  more  talk  about  putting  up  houses,  fencing 
lots,  etc.,  than  there  is  about  Buchanan  and  Fremont. 

"Present  prospects  indicate  extensive  improvements  in 
our  town  this  season.  We  predict  that  not  less  than  fifty- 
buildings  will  be  erected  this  year,  and  many  of  them 
superior  in  style  and  size  to  any  of  their  predecessors. 
Our  friends  are  coming  in  from  every  direction.  This 
is  as  it  should  be.  It  is  to  their  interest  to  come.  A  more 
beautiful  and  healthful  location  can  not  be  found  on  this 
side  of  the  Rocky  Mountains ;  and  as  to  the  quality  of  the 
soil,  it  cannot  be  surpassed.  It  is  just  as  good  as  any 
man  need  desire.  Our  citizens  are  sanguine  in  the 
opinion  that  in  less  than  two  years  our  ears  will  be  saluted 
by  the  whistle  of  the  iron  horse.  Stock  is  now  being 
taken  up  for  the  Iowa  Union  Railroad,  which,  when 
built,  must  pass  through  our  place,  as  it  is  on  the  direct 
route  from  Iowa  City  to  Cedar  Rapids. 

"Our  College  is  now  in  sucessful  operation,  affording 
rare  facilities  for  educating  our  youth,  and  will  be  greatly 
improved  the  present  season. 

"The  plan  upon  which  our  village  is  laid  out  offers  in- 
ducements to  persons  wishing  to  come  here  with  families. 
Lots  containing  one  or  more  acres  can  be  had  on  good 
terms.  These  lots  are  adapted  to  private  residences. 
As  the  education  of  our  sons  and  daughters  is  a  great 
part  of  the  work  of  the  parent,  we  think  it  would  be  to 
the  interest  of  our  friends  to  crowd  around  this  school 
and  liberally  educate  their  children  and  assist  us  by  their 
means  and  influence  in  building  up  an  institution  that, 
in  the  true  sense  of  the  word,  will  be  a  nursery  of  piety 
and  a  blessing  to  our  race.  Our  friends  who  are  accus- 
tomed to  daily  labor,  and  desire  to  rear  their  children  to 
habits  of  industry,  need  entertain  no  fears  in  this  direc- 

45 


Opening  Day  at  Western 

tion,  for  we  are  as  well  convinced  of  the  importance  of 
manual  labor,  in  order  to  the  student's  well-being,  as  you 
possibly  can  be ;  and,  in  order  to  do  this,  we  are  now 
engaged  in  enclosing  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres,  eighty  of  which  will  be  cultivated  the  present  sum- 
mer, commencing  the  first  of  April.  This  will  afford  a 
considerable  amount  of  labor  for  the  students,  nearly  as 
much,  perhaps,  as  will  be  necessary  for  them  to  do." 

At  the  end  of  the  first  term  of  school,  in  lieu  of  com- 
mencement exercises,  the  College  gave  what  is  called  an 
"Exhibition."  As  this  was  the  first  public  exercise  pre- 
sented by  the  school  itself,  the  Advocate's  account  of  the 
occasion  will  be  read  with  interest.  It  will  be  noted  that 
even  then  a  play  was  part  of  the  closing  exercises. 

"The  Exhibition  of  Western  College,  which  took  place 
on  the  last  evening  of  the  closing  exercises  of  the  first 
session,  was  of  an  interesting  character  and  did  credit 
to  the  students  of  the  school. 

"Essays  were  read  in  the  following  order:  'Female 
Education,'  Miss  V.  H.  Perry,  Western ;  'Tombs,'  Miss 
Orrel  M.  Hollan,  Cedar  Rapids;  'Memories  of  Child- 
hood,' Miss  E.  S.  DeMoss,  Western.  The  orations  were : 
'Responsibilities  of  Youth,'  J.  T.  Aleman,  Western ;  'Edu- 
cation,' Isaac  Berger,  Western ;  'Power  of  Thought,'  Wm. 
O.  Beam,  Western;  'Progressive  Spirit  of  Our  Country,' 
A.  C.  Weaver,  Western ;  and  'Time,'  S.  R.  Pearce, 
Providence,  R.  I. 

"The  twenty-two  characters  in  the  colloquy — 'The 
Miser's  Reform' — were  most  appropriately  personified  by 
the  young  ladies  and  gentlemen  who  participated. 

"The  largest  concourse  of  people  that  ever  assembled 
on  any  occasion  in  this  community  was  perfectly  en- 
raptured with  the  performance  of  the  Western  Choir. 

46 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

"We  think  the  large  concourse  of  people  present  dis- 
persed with  very  favorable  opinions  of  the  success  of 
the  first  session  of  the  College,  and  we  hope  they  will 
have  the  privilege,  in  the  progress  of  the  school,  to  witness 
many  such  occasions." 

Similar  "exhibitions"  seem  to  have  been  given  at  the 
close  of  each  year  until  real  commencement  exercises 
could  be  given  with  the  graduates  of  the  first  class,  in 
June,  1864. 

Through  the  thoughtfulness  of  Mr.  T.  G.  Smith,  of 
Huntington,  Indiana,  who  preserved  his  program  of  the 
"Exhibition"  given  at  the  close  of  the  first  full  year,  we 
are  able  to  give  our  readers  a  facsimile  of  that  document, 
as  shown  on  page  49. 

The  first  years  of  the  College  were  years  of  sturdy 
and  steady  growth.  Students  came  in  increasing  numbers, 
some  of  them  men  and  women  of  rare  talent.  The 
friends  of  the  College  were  active  and  full  of  hope.  The 
teachers  were  conscientious  men  and  women  with  high 
standards  of  scholarship  and  lofty  ideals  of  their  calling. 
As  a  consequence  the  College  soon  found  itself  with  a 
wide-spread  and  well-deserved  reputation.  In  the  spring 
of  1859  the  enrollment  reached  one  hundred  and  twenty, 
a  high-water  mark  maintained  until  the  breaking  out  of 
the  Civil  War  threatened  to  close  the  institution  alto- 
gether. 

Advertisements  (of  which  a  facsimile  is  presented  on 
the  following  page)  issued  during  the  summer  vacation 
of  1857  will  show  that  the  teaching  force  was  being 
enlarged,  and  that  an  effort  was  being  made  to  differen- 
tiate the  work  of' the  departments  of  the  College.  Later 
in  the  year,  M.  W.  Bartlett  was  secured  as  professor  of 
Latin  and  Greek. 

47 


Western — Leander  Clark  College 


RESIDENT    AGENT'S    DEPARTMENT. 

TTESTBHNT  COLLBGE. 
^jrjrovjrcEJTE.YT  Fon  tmie  fael  «J.rj>  whiter  temim. 


Tl:e  next  So^lort  ot  tlili  College  will  opra  on 

THURSDAY,  AUGUST  20, 1857, 

*M)  WTLL  CONTINUE  IX  SESSION  TWENTY  WEEKS. 


RATES  OF  TUITION  AND  OTHER  EXPENSES. 

Primary  Cr.glhh  branches  pr?  Session - - .$  TOO 

Higher  Fnglrfh  branches  per  Sce-ioD 10.00 

l-atin  soil  Greek  Linj-ungis.  per  Session - M.00 

Hoamlng  [wr  wr-ek - '">"•  $*00  to  2  85 

Room  rent  in  College  Building,  per  month.- _ - -  00.T5 

Room*  in  the  Collesr  Building  are  farnUbed  with  bedstead,  table,  stove,  atd  chairs  but  do  bedding.    Stodect* 
an  obtain  rowtue  entirely  furn^ticd  in  private  families. 


FACILITIES    FOR    INSTRUCTION. 

Prof.  S. !"-.  PI  LILIAN  trill  p«  ioatmctfon  la  Wjtiii  mmc*,  and  will  alio  give  a  coarse  of  Lee* area  on 
CiiruiiTKv  danng  the  urn  half  of  the  Term. 

,Prof.  W.  PA  It  EU.M  KM,  M.  l>.,  will  give  a  eoorie  r»j  Uetorea  on  Axatomt  ind  ruTuoioCY  d*ni»r**e  leal 
halt  ol  the  Tcnu. 

A  ProTe**or  of  l.annuaart  will  give  inffroetlon  In  ibe  I-aiin  aod  Greek  Largnagec.  (No  ProtVsfor  at  Lan- 
guage.*, baa  Urn  (.ositlvely  eogiged  up  io  tjie  lime  w*  go  to  |  rear-,  lut  e^eiy  efliut  u>  being  made  to  tecurt  a  co-n- 
l-clent  man  for  tliat  department  hv  the  oj-ening  of  the  Best  teruu  Should  no  Proferuor  be  OTfatned.  Prolrmora 
•biixaui  and  Pa^mr-m-cr  u  ill  ihare  Uie  rreitations  of  that  Lleianmtrat.) 

Mr.  *,  It.  PKAlU  L  ivilt  g.vc  iuefruction  in  Plain  cud  UrnamcMalP.RSiiAssw'r.BOQl  KEerncoandlftrsiTKui. 
Da^wrvo. 

Sir.  J.C.  SURADERnill  gke  instruction  in  GsocRai'tir  and  the  Panah.  Dfiaxcui.*. 


FEMALE    DEPARTMENT. 

Mr».  EMILY  *.  UILI.MA.N.  Principal.  |  Mm.  U.  B.  PAJUIKNTEH, 

(Ho  will  milt  In  the  lll»  rjuses  n«  unilmn  « I  en  purMiUf  lU  aunt  stojjfc*.    l*4iu  I™  lliMi  «u'l  U  • 
i.lied  with  conifortAUe  boarding  plocrt  iu  j  mm.  tmDilllw. 


APPARATUS. 

TW  Codec.  ■■  fur»i.b*d  »  iili  >n  crtemlte  iorpi«-of  Cb«W«T  Aprtfllin  »»<  Cl\*rrrlcal>.  wbkri,  logcltw  wll» 
Iht  •rprepiUtoon  rrr.nl!.  road.,  .iliUfioTd  ample  ror»n»  for  Ulrisfrolloof  lo  Chemlnry. 

("be  Department  vf  Auoloiry  md  l"t>T.lolngv  «IU  bo  iurnlenodwiCb  •  5k.'.«mn,  Ch«rt»,.tle. 


MANUAL   LABOR. 


DESIGN  OF  THE  INSTITUTION. 

Tala  Inuitwtion  ha«  been  In  operation  one  aeasion,  and  though  of  recxr.t  origin,  It. |»  heUered  It  will,  by  tha 
-  pan :  □  g  of  the  TH«tt  S*.»k>n,  afford  frrlHtlea  for  rortruction  equal  to  any  C^rege  in-  lie  8tnTe/  tht  Truttr-e*  and 
racuity  we-oetrririiricd  to  spare  no  patina  or  expense  to  Li.. id  ap  a  fir*t  elarEColleK. 

A  Mrolar  <ooT«c  of  study  vfBoe  .adopted by  the  otumgr.  uf  nmrt  term,  and  Colfew  eiaeaei  arrnr^vd  at  «H>n  U 
tt.««SS  ojlbe  totUtutlw  ma,  demand  them.       ^       K  *  VTBAVEB,  B«aUcnl  AgM. 


48 


PROFESSOR  M.  W.  BARTLETT.  A.M. 
Professor  in  Western  College  from  1858  to  1867  and  Acting  President  one  year. 


W.  T.  JACKSON  Ph.D. 
First  Classical  Graduate  of  Western  Col- 
lege, 1864. 


MRS.  S.  J.  STAVES 
Early  Student  at  Western:  Instrumental 
in  securing  the  Memorial  Tablet  to  West- 
ern's Soldier  Boys. 


E.  R.  SMITH,  M.D. 
Member  of  the  Executive  Committee  ever 
since  the  College  came  to  Toledo  in  1881. 


HON.  W.  F.  JOHNSTON 

Member  of  the  Executive  Committee  for 

thirty  years  since  1881. 


?j§5Fi 


i 


TbuiMlay   Ifcvtfg,  June  III,  IHjK. 

ORDER   OF   EXERCISES  J 

MUSIC.  PRAYER.  MUSIC 

ESSAYS : 


3VCU  SIC. 


Life's  Spring, 


Mim  J.  I'.  Union.  U.  ,-t,iOf 

.  Mi-»  t'.-V  Walkir.  R»..ner  VnlUY. 
.      Ml-  fc  J.  Shinto.  Ohio. 


MW0 


orations: 

Plea  for  tbc  Bible,  ....' -«MC.  llcCion,  .v.»  York. 

Sell  Esteem T  G.  Suiuh.  Indium 

No  Man  without  Influence, ' B  F. Biviiu,  Wnt«m 


^MsXISCXfr 


The  Present  Ccudition  of  Our  Country,        K  It  toper,  J<mc«  C". 
Mysteries  ol  Nature,  C  Hurkholdcr.  OUi  H»pi<U. 


f  V\ttr.  IV* 


MUSIC. 


Religion  Hi. i  Chief  Concern  of  M«h. 
The  Nui'tUanri  t lie-  South,' 

MUSIC. 


DISCUSSION  . 
lit-solvod    That   the  tendencies  of  our  Government  are  to- 
ward 'I    IK'-j" 


V..,   V  |. |„..| 


ftliSilG. 


CO  I.  LO(|l<  V. 


CHARACTERS  REPRESENTED. 

Ih.kr.j-  \V I<   r    Miilnii 

Anloi.i...  In-  DnvMfil  »    f   Mcfam.ii 

Haws..,..    1  I'    II.  Krlkml 

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49 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

As  has  already  been  intimated,  the  founders  of  the 
College  undertook  at  the  very  beginning  to  incorporate  a 
manual  labor  system  as  an  organic  part  of  their  institu- 
tion "of  equal  importance  with  the  other  departments  of 
the  school."  In  that  day  manual  labor  departments  seem 
to  have  been  thought  by  the  founders  of  colleges  a 
necessary  provision,  not  as  in  the  present  day  to  train 
young  people  for  intelligent  success  in  agriculture,  me- 
chanic arts,  or  domestic  science,  but  to  furnish  the  sys- 
tematic exercise  necessary  for  the  health  of  the  students, 
and,  above  all,  to  counteract  that  supposed  tendency  of 
college  education  to  make  young  men  haughty  and  indo- 
lent. For  a  vigorous  statement  of  the  hopes  and  fears 
entertained  by  the  advocates  of  the  movement  nothing 
could  be  better  than  the  following  page  from  the  resident 
agent's  department,  taken  from  the  Western  College 
Advocate  for  August,  1857.      (See  page  51.) 

In  addition  to  the  160-acre  farm  mentioned  in  the 
agent's  statement,  the  College  laid  out  a  nursery  on  the 
edge  of  its  town  tract,  and  for  many  years  seems  to  have 
conducted  a  good  business  in  all  kinds  of  nursery  stock. 
The  farm,  merely  as  a  farm  enterprise,  seems  to  have 
been  reasonably  profitable  during  the  five  years  that  the 
College'  operated  it,  but  it  sadly  disappointed  the  hopes 
of  those  who  strove  so  earnestly  to  make  farm  work  a 
constituent  part  of  the  College  course.  No  doubt  the 
failure  of  the  plan  was  inherent  in  the  plan  itself;  it  was 
an  attempt  to  impose  an  artificial  condition  on  student 
life.  True,  students  were  paid  for  their  labor,  but  not 
many  students  find  it  either  congenial  or  profitable  to 
drop  school  work  for  several  hours  each  day  in  order  to 
work  on  a  farm  a  mile  away — and  walking  bad  at  that. 
The  experiment  was  kept  up  for  five  years  and  then 
abandoned,  and  the  farm  was  sold  at  a  very  low  price. 

SO 


Opening  Day  at  Western 


RESIDENT    AGENT'S    DEPARTMENT. 


Manual  Labor  Colleges  have  been  pronouncej  by  high  authority  ono  of  the 
Lumbugs  of  the  age  ;  by  some  thoy  are  classed  with  tho  exploded  humbugs ;  and  there 
is  enough  in  the  history  of  Western  colleges  to  justify  these  opinions.  Very  few  in- 
stitutions of  learning  have  been  established,  within  tho  last  thirty  years,  west  of  the 
Alleghanies,  that  have  not  at  their  commencement  claimed  to  bo  manual  iaboi  schools- 
and,  yet,  wo  do  not  know  of  a  single  college  in  successful  operation,  that  can,  in  any 
true  eonse  of  the  term,  bo  called  a  Manual  Labor  College.  Theso  are  facts-  and 
those  facts  wero  staring  tho  founders  of  Western  College  in  the  face  when  they  decided 
that  manual  labor  should  be  connected  with  this  institution.  It  may  then  be  interest- 
ing to  tho  friends  of  ibis  onterpriso  to  learn  what  stops  have  already  been  taken,  and 
what  plan  is  proposed  for  the  future  to  avoid  what  seems  to  have  been  the  inevitable 
fate  of  our  predecessois  in  attempting  to  connect  labor  with  study. 

1st.  Wo  havo  a  farm  of  ono  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  most  .excellent  land  under 
fence — one  hundred  and  twenty  is  broken  up,  and  will  bo  croped  next  summer.  The 
The  soil  of  this  farm  is  a  rich  sandy  muck,  from  three  to  four  feet  deep,  with  a  clay 
subsoil,  and  possesses  every  natural  facility  for  making  a  6rst  class  farm  st  a  compara- 
tively small  expense. 

2d.  A  Professor  of  Agriculture  and  Agricultural  Chemistry  has  becniemntoyed,  who 
will  live  on  the  farm,  and  give  his  undivided  attention  to  it  and  to  ttHRRiiog  the  col- 
lateral branches  of  Botany  and  Geology.  It  is' designed  to  make  the.iOfm  a  model 
farm — to  conduct  it  in  a  systematic  manner,  and  to  mako  it  tot  motjcy  S'.placo  where 
students  will  bo  furuished  work  to  eke  out  a  subsistence,  but  where  tfiey  will  be  taught 
both  the  theory  and  practice  of  scientific  agriculture.  Whilo  it  is  not  proposed  to 
make  this  an  experimental  farm,  some  attention  will  be  given  to  testing  the  advantages 
of  different  relation  of  crops  —  the  comparative  value  of  tho  various  manures  both 
organic  and  inorganic,  to  different-crops — the  best  manner  of  applying  fertilizers,  and 
so  forth;  and  students  will  be  particularly  instructed  in  the  best  methods  of  conduet- 
ing  farm  experiments  so  as  to  make  them  profitable,  and  to  aid  in  perfecting  a  Science 
of  Agriculture. 

3d.  An  Analytical  Laboratory  will  be  connected  with  the  farm  where  students  can 
be  taught  Analytic  Chemistry,  and  especially  tho  application  of  Chomistry  to  Agricul- 
ture. It  is  not  expected  that  alt  or  even  a  majority  of  our  students  will  become 
analytic  chemists,  but  all  will  bo  taught  so  much  of  chemistry  as  to  bo  able  to  make  an 
intelligent  use  of  chemical  analyses,  ar.d  to  comprehend  tho  principles  which  affect 
his  daily  life  and  business. 

4th.  Students  will  be  required  to  labor  just  as  much  as  thev  will  bo  required  to 
study,  and  delinquencies  in  labor  will  boas  much  subjects  for  discipline  as  delinquencies 
in  study.  The  Professor  of  Agriculture  will  hold  students  to  as  strict  an  account 
for  failure  {6  attend  to  the  prescribed  duties  of  hie  department,  as  will  the  Professor 
of  any  other  department. 

Lastly — All  connected  with  the  College  must  work.  No  Professor  or  Teacher  will 
be  employed  in  any  department,  who  is  unwilling  to  work,  and  who  does  not  work. 
The  theory  that  it  'is  advantageous  for  stri'dcuts  to  lahor  to  promote  physical  health, 
and  thereby  sharpen  his  mental  powers,  is  just  as  applicable  to  the  teacher,  and  will 
be  treated  accordingly.  In  short,  it  is  intended  to  give  to  the  manual  labor  depart 
ment  such  a  prominence  a«  to  secure  its  success. 

Such  is  a  rough  outline  of  the  plan  proposed  by  the  Committee  appointed  to  tait> 
into  consideration  the  interest  of  the  Manual  Labor  Department.  And  to  show  that 
they  aie  in  earnest  they  have  appointed  Prof.  S.  S.  Diiaman  to  take  charge  of  tbia 
department.  Prof.  DlLLLAN  brings  to  this  department  the  experience  of  a  practical 
man  and  the  skill  of  an  analytic  chemist.  And  he  baa  entered  oo  his  work  with  a 
determination  that  it  shall  succeed,  that  manual  labor  in  thoory  shall  be  reduced  to 
manual  labor  in  practice. 

8.  WEAVER,  Resident  Jgtvt. 


51 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

Some  time  later  the  nursery  stock  was  closed  out,  and  the 
College  ceased  to  furnish  labor  for  its  students. 

The  social  and  religious  life  of  the  student  community 
partook  of  the  simplicity  and  earnestness  to  be  expected 
among  a  serious-minded  frontier  people.  Where  none 
had  wealth  or  knew  the  taste  of  luxury  there  was  no  dis- 
play of  dress  or  in  manner  of  living.  Had  other  things 
been  favorable,  external  conditions  would  have  militated 
against  fastidiousness  in  dress.  Students  of  those  old 
days  speak  of  Western  as  the  muddiest  town  they  ever 
saw,  especially  in  early  spring  after  one  of  those  severe 
winters,  common  in  the  early  days.  A  boy  who  walked 
from  Shueyville,  or  from  a  prairie  farm,  came  in  coarse 
boots  with  clothes  to  match,  wiped  off  what  mud  he  could 
and  carried  the  remainder  into  the  classroom.  No 
doubt  a  touch  of  wholesome  rudeness  showed  at  times 
among  the  boys,  but  they  were  withal  a  royal-hearted 
band  whose  bit  of  nonsense  now  and  then  was  relished  all 
the  more  because  it  was  so  rare.  Young  people  had  their 
sports  and  social  gatherings  then  as  now,  but  their  sports 
were  more  spontaneous  and  required  less  grinding  train- 
ing than  is  required  by  specialized  modern  athletics,  and 
social  life  among  the  young  was  less  feverish  than  now. 

If  the  printed  rules  and  regulations  are  any  criterion, 
the  social  life  of  young  lady  students  must  have  been 
somewhat  restricted  and  altogether  proper,  and  the  de- 
portment of  young  men  orderly  and  circumspect.  The 
nine  rules  promulgated  before  school  was  opened  had, 
under  the  test  of  practical  application,  grown  to  nineteen. 
"Ladies  not  to  receive  the  visits  of  young  gentlemen,  or  to 
go  into  company  without  special  permission,"  still  held  its 
place  of  prominence,  to  which  was  added,  applicable  to 
all    students   alike,    "To   attend   no   meetings    whatever, 

52 


Opening  Day  at  Western 

except  the  regular  meetings  approved  by  the  faculty,  with- 
out the  permission  of  the  faculty."  Such  regulations 
were  devised  with  the  sincerest  of  motives,  and  the  young 
people  enjoyed  themselves  with  little  lack  of  spontaneity. 
In  harmony  with  a  long-established  custom,  one  side  of 
the  chapel  during  church  services  was  occupied  by  the 
men  and  the  other  by  the  women,  a  custom  that  was  relig- 
iously observed  until  Professor  Ebersole,  in  an  effort  to 
make  away  with  set  rules  and  outgrown  traditions,  and 
to  secure  better  order  during  religious  services,  recom- 
mended to  the  young  men  a  setting  aside  of  the  old 
custom.  The  next  Sunday  evening  every  fellow  in 
school  appeared  with  his  girl  and  sat  with  her  during 
the  church  services. 

Perhaps,  however,  the  most  characteristic  and  the  most 
pronounced  influence  belonging  to  that  part  of  college 
life,  which  has  to  do  with  finer  social  and  spiritual  in- 
stincts, was  the  deeply  religious  atmosphere  that  pervaded 
the  early  days  of  the  College.  The  founders  of  the 
school  were  among  the  most  devout  and  zealous  men  in 
all  the  Church ;  their  sole  aim  was  to  invest  the  education 
of  the  mind  with  the  spirit  of  vital  Christianity.  The 
parents  who  came  with  the  founders  from  afar  and  settled 
at  Western  did  so  simply  because  they  wanted  to  educate 
their  children  under  the  strongest  religious  influences. 
Many  religious  leaders  gathered  at  Western,  and  many 
seasons  of  profoundest  religious  awakenings  were  experi- 
enced. One  of  the  first  reports  sent  out  from  the  new 
community  reads :  "For  the  last  two  weeks  the  Lord  has 
been  graciously  reviving  his  work  in  our  place.  There 
have  been  forty  powerful  conversions  and  fifty-three 
accessions  to  the  Church.  We  commenced  our  efforts  in 
an  unfinished  frame  house,  but  the  weather  became  so 

53 


Western — Lcandcr-Clark  College 

cold  that  we  were  compelled  to  abandon  this  place,  and, 
having  no  other  visible  resort,  the  church  became  dis- 
couraged. It  appeared  at  the  crisis,  however,  that  the 
Lord  put  it  into  the  hearts  of  our  kind  carpenters  to  lay 
down  a  floor  in  one  of  the  recitation  rooms  in  the  primary 
building,  nail  up  the  windows,  and  cover  the  joists  with 
boards,  for  as  yet  there  was  no  roof.  In  this  place  we 
held  our  meetings,  though  sometimes  annoyed  by  rain 
and  melting  snows."  This,  as  will  be  seen,  was  before 
school  opened.  One  of  the  first,  if  not  the  very  first, 
organization  connected  with  the  College  was  a  Theologi- 
cal Association,  partly  literary,  but  dominantly  religious 
in  purposes.  The  association  held  meetings  every  two 
weeks ;  at  one  time  its  membership  numbered  forty. 
Another  strong  influence  in  the  religious  life  of  the  school 
was  the  sincere  piety  of  the  early  teachers,  most  of  whom 
deserve  fuller  mention  in  the  following  chapter. 


54 


Chapter  IV. 

OUR  FOUNDERS.    EARLY  TEACHERS.    EARLY  STUDENTS. 

The  history  of  any  institution  would  lack  its  better 
part  without  the  story  of  the  personal  sacrifices,  tenacious 
faith,  and  human  hopes  and  fears  of  the  men  and  women 
who  fostered  the  institution  at  its  birth  and  gave  almost 
of  their  heart's  blood  that  it  might  live  and  thrive.  The 
foundations  of  Western  College  were  built  of  such  lives 
and  cemented  with  tears  and  prayers. 

The  first  to  be  named  on  this  roll  of  honor  is  Rev. 
Solomon  Weaver,  generally  conceded  to  have  been  the 
moving  spirit  in  the  founding  of  Western  College,  and 
unanimously  chosen  as  its  first  president.  Though  less 
famous  in  the  history  of  his  Church  than  was  his  younger 
brother,  Jonathan,  long  the  senior  bishop  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church,  he  yet  filled  so  large  a  space  in  the 
religious  and  educational  life  of  his  day  that  his  memory 
deserves  a  fuller  tribute  than  has  yet  been  paid,  or  than 
can  be  paid  within  the  limits  of  this  brief  history. 

Solomon  Weaver  was  born  in  western  Pennsylvania 
in  1814,  well  down  the  list  in  a  large  family  that  ten 
years  later  reached  a  total  of  six  sons  and  six  daughters. 
WThen  Solomon  was  still  a  young  child  the  family  moved 
to  Ohio,  then  a  comparatively  wild  country  that  imposed 
many  hardships  upon  the  pioneer  and  afforded  but  the 
most  meager  social  and  educational  advantages  for  his 
children.  Young  Weaver's  schooling  was  exceedingly 
limited,  but  he  had  a  hungry  mind  and  eagerly  picked  up 
what  learning  he  could  gather  for  himself.  When  about 
eighteen  years  of  age  he  suffered  from  a  very  severe  and 

55 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

protracted  illness  which  incapacitated  him  for  farm 
work.  For  about  a  year  he  was  employed  as  a  clerk  in 
a  store,  and  then  for  a  few  years  engaged  in  business  for 
himself. 

When  about  twenty-six  years  of  age,  Mr.  Weaver  was 
converted  at  an  evening  meeting  held  at  the  house  of  his 
father;  soon  after  he  was  elected  class-leader,  and  in 
about  a  year  was  licensed  to  exhort,  and  soon  afterward 
to  preach.  In  1845  he  joined  the  Muskingum  Annual 
Conference  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ,  from  which 
time  until  his  death  he  was  a  tireless  worker  for  the 
Church,  especially  in  helping  spread  the  spirit  of  evangel- 
ism and  education  westward  with  the  increasing  tide  of 
immigration.  As  a  gospel  minister,  he  felt  more  keenly 
than  ever  the  need  of  a  better  education,  and  took  every 
occasion  he  could  find  or  make  to  gain  a  knowledge  of 
history,  science,  and  literature,  as  well  as  of  practical 
life,  and  thus  became  fairly  well  informed,  even  in  a 
scholastic  sense.  In  later  years  he  accumulated  a  library 
of  which  any  scholar  might  be  proud.  During  the 
early  years  of  his  ministry  the  United  Brethren  Church 
was  in  the  midst  of  the  first  determined  agitation  in  favor 
of  taking  up  education  as  a  definite  part  of  church  activ- 
ity. Otterbein  University  was  founded  in  1847,  just 
four  years  after  Mr.  Weaver  was  licensed  to  preach. 
Both  as  pastor  and  as  presiding  elder,  he  took  a  pro- 
nounced stand  in  favor  of  education,  in  this  placing  him- 
self far  in  advance  of  the  Church  as  a  whole.  Owing 
to  this  deep  interest,  he  served  for  a  short  time  as 
financial  agent  of  Otterbein. 

How  Mr.  Weaver  came  to  Iowa,  in  1855,  and  at  once 
took  the  lead  in  founding  Western  College,  has  been 
related  at  some  length  in  these  pages.      It  was  he  who 

56 


Our  Founders 

did  most  of  the  soliciting  for  money  and  lands  to  bring 
the  College  to  the  Shueyville  neighborhood.  Though  a 
poor  itinerant  minister  among  a  pioneer  people,  he  gave 
freely  of  his  own  meager  income,  as  well  as  of  his  time 
and  untiring  zeal.  He  must  have  been  a  man  of  large 
capacity  and  unlimited  energy,  for,  in  addition  to  his 
duties  as  presiding  elder  of  a  large  district,  he  served  as 
president  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  and  a  member  of  the 
Executive  Committee  during  the  formative  stage  of  the 
College ;  resident  agent,  with  all  the  duties  of  business 
manager  of  a  new  enterprise,  including  purchase  of  ma- 
terial and  superintendence  of  the  erection  of  buildings ; 
and  senior  editor  of  the  Western  College  Advocate. 
After  the  school  was  opened  his  duties  were  a  little  more 
concentrated,  but  not  less  varied  or  exacting;  for  the 
presiding  eldership  was  substituted  the  presidency  of  the 
College,  including  preaching  in  the  College  chapel  each 
Sunday  and  conducting  the  Monday  Bible  study  class  for 
the  students.  During  the  eight  years  of  his  presidency 
he  carried  the  greater  part  of  the  burden  of  the  financial 
management,  often  under  the  utmost  discouragements. 

In  June,  1864,  President  Weaver  resigned  as  head  of 
the  College,  and,  though  urgently  solicited  to  reconsider, 
steadfastly  held  to  his  conviction  that  it  was  better  for 
him  to  withdraw.  Perhaps  he  felt,  as  many  another 
leader  of  unworldly  ideas  against  great  odds,  has  been 
driven  to  feel,  that  somehow  he  failed  to  bring  to  the 
support  of  the  cause  just  those  peculiar  talents  and  per- 
sonal qualities  of  leadership  most  sorely  needed,  or  else 
that  the  cause  in  this  place  was  so  hemmed  in  by  acci- 
dental circumstances  that  the  only  freedom  lay  in  a  new 
start.  At  any  rate,  President  Weaver  insisted  on  the 
acceptance  of  his  resignation,  went  to  Kansas,  and  there 

57 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

took  up  the  work  in  which  he  was  so  deeply  interested, 
the  building  of  a  church  school.  Under  his  leadership 
Lane  University  was  founded  in  the  fall  of  1864,  and  he 
became  the  first  president,  which  position  he  held  for  two 
years.  As  a  mouthpiece,  both  for  the  school  and  for  the 
Church  in  Kansas,  he  established  and  edited  the  Kansas 
New  Era.  After  a  strenuous  life  of  more  than  ordinary 
usefulness,  he  died  in  1874,  at  Valley  Falls,  Kansas. 

By  way  of  tribute  and  reminiscence,  the  following  are 
presented : 

"He  was  a  man  of  much  energy  and  strong  will,  a  man 
of  intensity  and  of  rich  Christian  character.  Always 
while  president  he  conducted  the  preaching  service  on 
Sunday.  He  was  a  preacher  of  interest  and  more  than 
ordinary  force.  He  also  conducted  the  Bible  recitation 
of  the  school  on  Mondays,  in  which  the  students  took 
great  interest."  Jacob  A.  Shuey,  '65. 

"President  Weaver  was  a  man  of  positive  character, 
and  left  a  lasting  impression  upon  those  who  knew  him. 
I  recall  him  as  a  man,  tall,  slightly  stooped,  and  rather 
loosely  built — somewhat  in  the  style  of  Abraham  Lincoln 
— but  he  had  great  physical  endurance.  In  disposition  he 
was  always  kind  and  considerate.  He  usually  had  his 
way  among  men,  but  there  was  nothing  domineering  about 
him.  On  the  other  hand,  he  won  men  to  his  purpose  by 
always  having  at  hand  good  reasons  for  his  projects,  and 
by  kind  and  conciliatory  methods.  If  he  had  any  enemies 
I  was  never  aware  of  it.  When  I  consider  how  many  men 
who  have  had  the  best  scholastic  advantages  fail  in 
practical  life,  I  can  scarcely  measure  my  esteem  for  one, 
who,  without  such  advantages,  undertakes  such  a  work 

58 


Oar  Founders 

as    President   Weaver   did-    and   succeeds   as   admirably 
under  such  adverse  circumstances. 

"E.  C.  Ebersole." 

Mrs.  S.  J.  Staves,  now  of  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  then  with 
her  parents,  a  resident  of  Western,  recalls  an  interesting 
instance  of  President  Weaver's  thoughtful  kindliness  and 
sympathy.  One  hot  summer's  afternoon  she,  a  little 
barefoot  girl,  was  starting  for  the  prairie  to  gather  a  pail 
of  wild  strawberries.  On  the  way  she  met  President 
Weaver,  and  he,  big-hearted  man  that  he  was,  filled  with 
compassion  for  the  little  toiler,  said,  "You  don't  need  to 
go  away  out  there  alone ;  go  right  over  to  our  berry  patch 
and  pick  one  pailful  for  us  and  one  for  you  and  it  will  be 
all  right."  Swept  by  a  wave  of  gratitude,  whose  warmth 
is  not  diminished  by  the  lapse  of  fifty  years,  she  joyfully 
obeyed,  and  found,  to  her  delight,  that  picking  large  cul- 
tivated strawberries  in  rows  close  together — the  first  she 
had  ever  seen — was  a  much  lighter  task  than  picking  the 
small  wild  berries  scattered  over  the  face  of  the  prairie, 
especially  with  the  congenial  companionship  and  help  of 
the  president's  little  daughter. 

Mr.  Thomas  G.  Smith,  a  prominent  lawyer  of  Hunting- 
ton, Indiana,  who  was  a  student  of  Western  in  1858-59, 
tells  an  anecdote  that  reveals  something  of  the  character 
of  President  Weaver,  and  at  the  same  time  shows  that 
human  nature  does  not  change  much  in  half  a  century. 

"I  became  a  student  in  April,  1858,  and  left  in  June, 
1860.  On  my  arrival  I  immediately  found  myself  a  guest 
at  a  small  hotel  kept  by  a  Mr.  Bolenbaugh,  and  while  I 
was  there  one  day  a  couple  of  footmen  made  inquiry 
where  they  could  procure  some  whiskey.  The  president 
of  the  College,  Solomon  Weaver,  at  that  time  had  his 

59 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

office  in  the  rear  part  of  the  room  in  which  his  son  con- 
ducted a  retail  store  (and  he  was  a  very  pronounced 
temperance  man).  One  of  the  waggish  guests  of  the 
hotel  informed  the  "thirsty  souls"  that  this  was  a  temper- 
ance town  and  there  was  but  one  place  where  anything  of 
that  kind  was  kept,  and  that  was  by  an  old  man  in  that 
store  behind  the  desk.  They  were  also  forewarned  that 
a  great  deal  of  caution  and  dexterity  would  have  to  be 
exercised,  as  he  would,  from  the  start,  pretend  that  he 
could  not  supply  their  wants,  but  they  were  certain  to 
succeed  if  they  persisted.  They  did  persist  and  per- 
sist until  the  old  man  became  indignant  and  vehemently 
ordered  them  from  the  building,  always  remaining 
ignorant  of  the  fact  that  a  mischievous  individual  and 
his  friends  were  watching  the  proceedings  at  a  safe  dis- 
tance." 

Perhaps  the  names  that  should  stand  next  in  honor  to 
Solomon  Weaver  among  the  founders  of  Western  Col- 
lege are  those  of  Father  Jacob  Shuey  and  his  two  sons, 
Captain  W.  H.  Shuey  and  J.  A.  Shuey.  The  Shueys 
were  descendants  of  the  Huguenots  who  fled  from  France 
to  escape  massacre  at  the  hands  of  the  Catholics.  One 
branch  of  the  family  settled  in  Augusta  County,  Virginia, 
where  they  became  land  holders  and  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church.  In  1855,  Jacob  Shuey  and  his 
sons  came  to  Iowa  and  settled  on  the  prairie  between 
Cedar  Rapids  and  Iowa  City.  Captain  W.  H.  Shuey 
laid  out  the  village  of  Shueyville,  spent  much  talent 
and  considerable  money  in  building  it  up,  and  started 
several  business  enterprises.  When  the  opportunity 
came  to  compete  for  the  location  of  the  proposed  college, 
Jacob  Shuey  and  his  sons  were  foremost  among  the  lay- 
man promoters,  both  in  making  donations  and  in  solicit- 

60 


Our  Founders. 

ing  donations  from  their  neighbors.  That  their  activity 
in  the  matter  was  due  to  a  desire  to  promote  the  highest 
welfare  of  the  community  and  not  to  selfish  interest  is 
proved  by  the  fact  that  the  College  site,  by  common  con- 
sent, was  to  be  a  mile  away  from  Shueyville,  and  the 
Shueys  knew  that  the  growth  of  a  town  so  near  would 
mean  detraction  from  the  enterprises  that  they  had 
started.  Jacob  Shuey  gave  160  acres  of  prairie  land  as 
a  town  site,  and  40  acres  of  timber  land  some  miles  dis- 
tant. In  addition,  he  contributed  various  sums  of  money. 
Acting  under  the  instruction  of  the  Board,  he  borrowed 
a  large  sum  from  his  friends  in  Virginia  for  the  use  of 
the  College,  most  of  which  he  eventually  paid.  Captain 
W.  H.  Shuey  gave  according  to  his  ability,  was  active 
in  the  first  canvass  for  funds,  carried  the  proposition  to 
Sugar  Creek,  and  secured  the  location  of  the  College  at 
Western.  He  served  long  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  and  of  the  Executive  Committee,  and  for  a  time 
as  treasurer  of  the  College,  and,  with  Solomon  Weaver, 
edited  the  Western  College  Advocate.  All  the  time  he 
was  engrossed  in  business  enterprises,  a  share  of  the 
profits  of  which  went  into  the  treasury  of  the  College. 
J.  A.  Shuey,  though  but  a  lad  at  the  time,  took  an  active 
part  in  the  founding  of  the  College,  and  later  served  as  a 
member  of  the  Executive  Committee,  as  teacher  in  the 
College,  and  now  as  trustee  representing  the  Alumni 
Association.  To  all  these  would  truthfully  apply  the 
son's  tribute  to  his  father:  "He  was  a  liberal,  generous- 
hearted  man,  a  lover  of  his  Church,  the  College,  and  his 
God,  always  a  faithful  Christian  worker." 

Adam  Perry  was  one  of  the  earliest  and  truest  friends 
the  College  had.  Though  not  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church,  he  eagerly  identified  himself  with  the 

61 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

movement  to  secure  the  College  for  his  community,  and 
remained  a  life-long  friend  and  generous  supporter  of 
the  school.  At  the  founding  of  the  College,  he  donated 
40  acres  of  land  for  the  town  site  and  aided  with  gifts 
of  money.  Being  a  practical  surveyor,  he  surveyed  and 
platted  the  campus  and  the  town  site  surrounding  it. 
For  twenty  years  or  more  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Executive  Committee  of  the  College,  giving  unstintedly 
of  his  time  and  energy  and  contributing  many  thousand 
dollars.  In  1868  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  State 
legislature  and  served  to  the  satisfaction  of  all.  From 
the  founding  of  the  College  until  the  fall  of  1875,  Mr. 
Perry  made  his  home  in  Western  and  heartily  supported 
everything  that  promised  to  further  the  welfare  of  the 
College  or  the  community.  The  warm  blood  of  his  Irish 
ancestors  added  to  a  strain  of  sentiment  through  his 
maternal  ancestor,  a  relative  of  Dean  Swift,  imparted  to 
him  a  genial  social  disposition  and  a  ready  sympathy  for 
the  finer  possibilities  of  life.  The  Perry  home  was  one 
of  the  most  hospitable  in  the  village  and  often  extended 
its  social  cheer  to  representative  college  folk.  In  1875, 
Mr.  Perry  removed  to  Cedar  Rapids  and  engaged  in 
business.  His  death  occurred  in  December,  1891.  "Thus 
was  the  curtain  drawn  on  a  long  life  full  of  kindly 
thoughts  and  good  deeds." 

Jonathan  Neidig  was  another  of  the  earliest  and  stanch- 
est  friends  of  the  institution.  He  was  one  of  the  five 
trustees  appointed  by  the  Iowa  Conference  in  1855  to 
decide  the  question  of  establishing  a  college.  In  an  early 
day  he  removed  from  Muscatine  to  Western,  partly  that 
he  might  give  his  family  the  benefits  of  the  College  and 
partly  that  he  might  give  his  personal  help  in  building  up 
the  institution.      He  contributed  land  and  money  at  the 

62 


Our  Founders 

founding  of  the  College,  and  in  1858  was  a  liberal  donor 
toward  a  boarding  hall  for  men,  named  Neidig  Hall  in 
honor  of  the  donor.  Mr.  Neidig  was  one  of  the  "pillars 
during  the  dark  and  trying  days  of  the  school's  early 
history."      He  died  at  Western  in  1868. 

Mr.  Ira  Lane,  then  an  aged  farmer  living  near  Gales- 
burg,  Knox- County,  Illinois,  holds  the  distinction  of  mak- 
ing the  largest  individual  donation  to  the  College  before 
it  was  removed  from  Western.  In  recognition  of  this 
gift  a  large,  three-story  boarding  hall  for  ladies,  the 
largest  building  erected  on  the  old  campus  at  Western, 
was  named  Lane  Hall.  Brick  and  stone  are  not  always 
enduring  monuments  of  worthy  names  and  deeds ;  the 
name  of  Ira  Lane  finds  a  more  lasting  monument  in  the 
grateful  remembrance  of  all  the  sons  and  daughters  of 
the  Western  he  helped  to  build. 

A  group  of  ministerial  founders  may  be  mentioned 
together  as  being  closely  associated  in  the  first  movement 
in  the  Iowa  Conference  toward  undertaking  a  church 
school,  and  in  the  first  strenuous  years  of  effort  to  set 
the  College  on  its  feet.  They  are  Rev.  Martin  Bowman, 
earnest  champion  of  the  school  idea  in  the  conference  at 
Muscatine,  in  1855,  long  one  of  the  most  valued  members 
of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  for  a  time  pastor  of  the 
station  at  Western ;  Rev.  Martin  G.  Miller,  likewise  a 
champion  of  the  school  movement,  member  of  the  first 
Board  of  Trustees,  for  several  years  its  secretary,  and 
the  first  soliciting  agent  officially  sent  into  the  field ;  Rev. 
Daniel  Runkle,  also  a  member  of  the  first  Board  of 
Trustees  and  its  first  treasurer,  a  wise  counselor  on  the 
Board  for  sixteen  years,  and  a  mainstay  of  the  Church 
in  Iowa,  especially  in  Lisbon,  where  he  made  his  home 
until  his  death ;  and  Rev.  J.  E.  Bowersox,  one  of  the  three 

63 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

men  appointed  as  the  first  executive  committee  of  the 
College,  and  continued  a  member  for  many  years.  Rev. 
I.  L.  Buchwalter  and  Rev.  M.  S.  Drury,  though  not  actu- 
ally of  the  founders,  deserve  to  be  mentioned  in  this 
connection  because  they  espoused  the  cause  of  the  Col- 
lege in  a  very  early  day,  giving  it  their  whole-souled  sup- 
port, and  finally  came  to  Western  with  their  great-hearted 
wives  and  large  families  of  intelligent  sons  and  daughters, 
thus  adding  greatly  to  the  substantial  character  and 
dignity  of  the  college  community,  to  its  social  prestige, 
and  to  the  scholastic  reputation  of  the  institution. 

Three  other  names  of  laymen  appear  frequently  in  the 
records  of  those  early  days — Benjamin  Tallman,  who  was 
farm  agent  during  the  greater  part  of  the  time  the  farm 
was  operated  by  the  College,  for  a  time  resident  agent  of 
the  College,  and  a  member  of  the  executive  committee; 
Ransom  Davis,  for  fifteen  years  a  valued  member  of 
the  executive  committee ;  and  John  W.  Henderson,  active 
in  securing  the  location  of  the  College,  for  some  time 
secretary  of  the  board  of  trustees,  and  long  on  the  execu- 
tive committee.  Among  the  reminiscences  graciously 
furnished  by  Mr.  T.  G.  Smith,  mentioned  before,  is  one 
that  shows  the  lovable  character  of  Mr.  Henderson,  and 
at  the  same  time  slips  aside  the  lattice  for  a  peep  at  the 
unrecorded  doings  of  those  days.  Mr.  Henderson  con- 
ducted a  small  store  in  the  village,  and,  in  addition, 
operated  a  fine  farm  a  mile  or  two  away.  Among  the  pro- 
ducts of  the  farm  was  an  unusually  fine  patch  of  water- 
melons. Although  Mr.  Henderson  was  most  liberal 
with  these,  a  company  of  college  boys,  feeling,  perhaps, 
in  accordance  with  the  old  proverb,  that  stolen  waters 
are  sweetest,  occasionally  visited  the  patch  under  cover  of 
darkness  and  helped  themselves.      On  one  such  occasion 

64 


Our  Founders 

some  inconsiderate  person,  presumably  the  hired  man  on 
the  farm,  fired  a  charge  of  bird-shot  in  the  direction  of 
the  melon  raiders,  some  of  which  whizzed  dangerously 
close  to  the  anatomy  of  the  boys,  and  they,  suddenly  real- 
izing that  they  had  urgent  business  at  the  College,  made 
rapid  strides  in  that  direction.  When  Mr.  Henderson 
some  time  later  learned  of  the  incident,  he  was  much 
distressed  at  the  danger  the  boys  had  been  in,  and  apolo- 
gized to  them  profusely,  assuring  them  that  they  were 
welcome  to  all  the  melons  they  wanted,  but  urged  them, 
as  a  precaution,  to  notify  him  the  next  time  they  meant  to 
visit  the  patch  lest  the  hired  man  should  try  to  play 
another  "joke"  on  them. 

It  will  be  appropriate  to  close  this  tribute  to  the 
founders  of  Western  College  with  some  mention  of  the 
share  women  had  in  the  undertaking.  Although  the 
official  records  of  these  days  seldom  mention  the  women, 
it  is  safe  to  assume  that  here,  as  in  the  case  of  every 
cause  whose  prime  aim  is  the  blessing  of  mankind,  women 
supplied  the  larger  part  of  the  sympathy  and  patient 
sacrifice  that  gave  the  cause  enduring  vitality,  an  assump- 
tion fully  supported  by  the  few  written  hints  and  by  the 
overwhelming  testimony  of  tradition  and  by  personal 
recollection.  The  wife  of  a  college  president  is  as  im- 
portant to  the  welfare  of  the  school  at  any  stage  of  its 
history  as  is  her  husband,  and  doubly  so  during  its  first 
years.  Few  will  ever  know  how  much  the  early  days 
owed  to  Mrs.  Weaver  and  to  women  of  her  class.  No 
better  glimpse  at  the  inside  history  of  those  days  can 
be  had  than  through  the  words  of  President  Weaver's 
daughter,  Mrs.  C.  C.  Lord,  of  Valley  Falls,  Kansas,  in 
response  to  a  letter  of  inquiry:  "While  father  was  ever 
an  earnest,  energetic  worker,  there  was  much  that  he 

65 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

accomplished  in  which  my  sainted  mother  bore  a  great 
part,  and  which,  had  it  not  been  for  her  able  and  willing 
assistance,  he  could  not  have  succeeded  in  doing  alone. 
We,  as  children,  realized  what  her  part  in  the  work  meant 
much  more  than  did  outsiders,  as  her  house  was  always 
open  and  her  hands  ever  ready  to  provide  for  the  enter- 
tainment of  those  who  were  sent  on  errands  connected 
with  the  College  work.  She  was,  indeed,  a  helpmeet  for 
father,  and  sacrifices  fell  as  heavily  on  her  as  on  him." 
Volumes  of  unwritten  history  are  suggested  by  those 
sentences — volumes  in  which,  if  written,  the  wife  of  every 
officer,  teacher,  soliciting  agent,  and  local  supporter  of 
the  school  would  have  a  great  part.  Such  a  story  would 
often  record  how  the  man's  failing  efforts  were  stimu- 
lated to  new  life  by  the  woman's  sublimer  sacrifices,  and 
his  despairing  courage  revived  by  the  woman's  finer  and 
more  abiding  faith.  It  would  tell  of  Mrs.  Shuey's 
generous  hospitality  and  hearty  cheer;  of  Mrs.  Perry's 
genial  welcome  and  hearty  feasts  for  spirit  as  well  as  for 
body;  of  Mrs.  Ebersole's  dainty  cooking  and  cultured 
social  manners,  both  revelations  to  country  boys;  of  Mrs. 
Dillman's  endless  tact,  wholesome  optimism,  and  inspiring 
leadership ;  and  of  Miss  Hillis'  earnest  personality,  un- 
worldly wisdom,  and  consecrated  life.  A  later  chapter 
would  tell  of  Mrs.  I.  L.  Buchwalter,  of  Mrs.  M.  S.  Drury, 
and  Mrs.  Ralph  Shatto,  each  of  whom  was  "mother"  to  a 
score  or  more  of  boys  and  girls  temporarily  separated 
from  the  shelter  and  solace  of  their  own  homes  and  con- 
sequently yearning  for  the  genial  domestic  warmth  that 
radiates  only  from  a  great  motherly  heart.  Bearded 
boys  of  fifty  and  sixty  still  feel  their  hearts  glow  with 
grateful  tenderness  at  the  recollection  of  some  special 
act  of  motherly  kindness  to  the  boy  away  from  home, 

66 


Our  Founders 

and  count  it  no  unmanly  thing  to  have  yielded  glad 
surrender  to  the  witchery  of  "my  boy,"  spoken  as  only 
a  capacious  mother's  heart  can  speak. 

EARLY   TEACHERS. 

Western  College  was  peculiarly  fortunate  in  having 
as  teachers  in  the  early  period,  when  the  institution  was 
receiving  its  soul  impress,  men  and  women  of  the  loftiest 
ideals  concerning  both  scholarship  and  character.  They 
came  from  Oberlin,  from  Dartmouth,  from  Amherst,  and 
later  from  Otterbein,  when  those  institutions  stood  for 
serious  scholarship  touched  with  a  holy  reverence  for 
sacred  things,  especially  in  the  case  of  Oberlin  with  the 
great  and  devout  personality  of  President  Finney  stamped 
upon  it.  Deeply  imbued  with  the  high  mission  of  conse- 
crated culture,  they  asked  but  an  opportunity  to  serve  and 
concerned  themselves  but  little  about  material  rewards 
or  the  emoluments  of  position.  Something  of  the  mis- 
sionary spirit  must  have  inspired  the  first  teachers  to  come 
to  a  new  land  and  join  heart  and  soul  in  an  educational 
work  of  a  denomination  so  young  in  college  matters  that 
it  had  none  of  its  own  members  sufficiently  trained  to 
take  the  position  of  teachers  in  its  schools. 

That  the  salary  consideration  was  not  the  only  induce- 
ment may  be  inferred  from  a  resolution  of  the  board  of 
trustees,  passed  at  its  first  annual  session,  authorizing  the 
procuring  of  additional  members  for  the  faculty  at  not  to 
exceed  $500  per  annum  each.  This  seems  to  have  been 
the  standard  rate  for  some  years;  and  but  a  small  part 
of  this  amount  was  paid  in  cash,  the  remainder  being 
paid  in  products  from  the  College  farm,  in  wood,  or  in 
College  notes.  There  is  a  tradition  that  during  one  of 
the  periods  of  financial  depression  the   families  of  the 

67 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

professors  kept  up  the  social  forms  by  inviting  each  other 
to  tea,  the  "tea"  in  each  case  consisting  entirely  of  mush 
and  milk. 

As  to  the  character  and  qualifications  of  these  pioneer 
teachers,  all  voices  are  unanimous  in  bestowing  the  high- 
est tribute  of  esteem  and  praise.  President  Weaver  is 
to  be  considered  among  the  founders  rather  than  among 
the  teachers,  and  yet  his  position  as  president  of  the 
College  and  virtual  college  pastor  brought  him  into  such 
close  personal  and  spiritual  relation  with  the  students 
that  his  energetic  personality  and  earnest  life  made  a  deep 
impression  on  all.  Though  appearing  stern,  he  was  the 
kindest  of  men  at  heart,  and  won  the  everlasting  grati- 
tude of  many  a  boy  by  his  sympathetic  interest  in  the 
boy's  welfare  and  the  wise  helpfulness  that  stimulated 
the  boy  to  make  something  of  himself.  The  greatest 
satisfaction  of  his  life  was  received  through  letters  from 
such  boys,  thanking  him  for  his  share  in  shaping  their 
lives  for  good. 

Sylvester  S.  Dillman,  the  first  teacher  employed  by  the 
College,  was  a  fortunate  selection  to  start  a  new  school 
enterprise.  He  was  an  Oberlin  graduate,  a  man  of  char- 
acter, and  a  student  of  methodical  habits  and  accurate 
scholarship.  He  had  already  been  closely  identified  with 
the  educational  work  of  the  United  Brethren  Church, 
having  even  in  his  undergraduate  days  taught  one  year 
in  Otterbein  University,  and  later  having  spent  two  years 
as  teacher  in  Mount  Pleasant  College,  Mount  Pleasant, 
Pennsylvania.  Professor  Dillman  was  a  thorough  mathe- 
matician and  an  independent  thinker.  One  of  his  pupils 
recalls  that  he  would  explain  the  textbook  method  of 
solution  for  a  given  type  of  problem  and  then  would  say : 
"Now  that   is   what  the   textbook   says,   but   here   is   a 

68 


Our  Founders 

shorter  way ;"  then  he  would  proceed  to  give  a  simple, 
direct,  and  clear  method  of  his  own.  Because  of  his 
practical  sagacity  and  his  knowledge  of  science,  Professor 
Dillman  at  one  time  was  put  in  charge  of  the  college  farm 
with  the  thought  that  he  should  conduct  a  department  of 
strictly  scientific  agriculture,  but  both  he  and  the  College 
authorities  were  prevented  by  stress  of  other  duties  from 
carrying  out  their  plans  in  this  regard.  For  some  time 
he  was  publisher  of  the  Western  College  Advocate,  a  posi- 
tion for  which  he  was  peculiarly  well  fitted.  The  maga- 
zine under  his  care  presented  a  neatness,  orderliness,  and 
mechanical  excellence  that  would  be  a  credit  to  any 
publication.  Once,  and  only  once,  did  the  boys  try  to 
play  a  rude  prank  on  Professor  Dillman.  One  night  they 
secured  a  number  of  calves  and  shut  them  in  Professor 
Dillman's  recitation  room.  Next  morning  he  appeared 
early,  had  the  calves  removed  and  the  room  made  pre- 
sentable. When  the  next  class  assembled  with  the  cul- 
prits evidently  among  them,  he  looked  searchingly  at  the 
boys  and  then  remarked,  as  if  conveying  a  bit  of  informa- 
tion, "The  last  class  I  met  in  this  room  was  the  brightest 
looking,  most  intelligent,  and  well  behaved  class  I  have 
seen  here  in  a  long  while."  With  that  the  serious  work 
of  the  lesson  began.  Professor  Dillman  held  the  chair 
of  mathematics  and  natural  science  in  Western  College 
from  the  opening  of  the  College,  in  1857,  to  the  fall  of 
1860.  He  then  accepted  the  principalship  of  the  Toledo, 
Iowa,  High  School,  which  position  he  resigned  in  1862 
to  enlist  in  the  Union  Army.  He  was  killed  in  1864  in 
the  battle  of  Winchester,  dying  in  the  arms  of  Captain 
Shrader,  his  former  associate  teacher.  The  "S.  S.  Dili- 
man  Post"  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  at  Toledo,  Iowa,  is  named  in 
his  honor. 

69 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

Mrs.  Emily  L.  Dillman,  first  principal  of  the  Female 
Department  of  Western  College,  was  in  many  respects  a 
remarkable  woman.  Capable  and  aspiring,  she  had 
sought  a  college  education  at  a  time  when  comparatively 
few  women  thought  higher  education  necessary  for  them. 
Like  her  husband,  she  was  a  graduate  of  Oberlin,  and 
with  him  she  taught  two  years  in  Mount  Pleasant  College 
before  taking  up  the  new  work  at  Western.  Here,  by 
her  capable  instruction,  and  still  more  by  her  wise  com- 
panionship and  helpful  counsel  among  the  girls,  she  made 
her  work  indispensable  to  the  welfare  of  the  school. 
When  later  she  felt  that  she  must  give  up  her  work  and 
offered  her  resignation,  the  board  was  so  urgent  that  she 
remained  a  while  longer  at  her  post.  Later,  at  Toledo, 
Iowa,  she  taught  in  the  public  schools  several  years  and 
served  as  postmistress  for  seventeen  years.  During  all 
that  time  she  so  identified  herself  with  all  that  was  for 
the  real  welfare  of  the  community  that  her  memory  is 
held  in  genuine  and  universal  esteem  such  as  only  a  few 
rare  souls  are  permitted  to  win.  Mrs.  Dillman  was  the 
first  to  suggest  the  bringing  of  the  College  to  Toledo. 

Mr.  John  C.  Shrader,  though  only  an  assistant  teacher, 
and  not  a  regular  professor,  yet  filled  so  large  a  place  in 
the  early  life  of  the  school  that  his  name  deserves  to 
stand  with  those  of  Solomon  Weaver,  S.  S.  Dillman,  and 
Mrs.  E.  L.  Dillman,  not  only  as  associates  in  the  first 
faculty  of  Western  College,  but  also  as  coworkers  in 
everything  that  promised  the  good  of  the  school.  He  had 
the  privilege  of  hearing  the  first  recitation  conducted  by 
the  College.  He  helped  to  organize  the  strong  and  influ- 
ential Theological  Association,  so  flourishing  in  the  early 
days  of  the  school,  and  was  for  a  long  time  its  secretary. 
Mr.  Shrader  was  connected  with  the  College  until  the 

70 


Our  Founders 

breaking  out  of  the  Civil  War,  at  which  time  he,  together 
with  several  other  teachers  and  many  students  of  the 
College,  enlisted  and  went  to  the  war,  reaching  the  rank 
of  Captain. 

After  the  war  was  over  he  completed  the  medical 
course,  and  later  founded  the  Medical  College  of  the 
State  University  of  Iowa,  and  served  as  dean  of  the 
college  for  twenty-eight  years.  In  recognition  of  his 
high  attainments  in  scholarship  and  his  long  service  in  the 
College,  Western  College,  in  1877,  bestowed  upon  Doctor 
Shrader  the  honorary  degree  of  Master  of  Arts,  and  in 
1894  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws. 

Professor  William  Parmenter,  M.D.,  a  graduate  of 
Oberlin,  the  first  teacher  added  after  the  school  was  or- 
ganized, was  called  to  the  College  in  the  fall  of  1857  as 
Professor  of  Anatomy  and  Physiology.  He  divided  his 
time  between  teaching  in  the  College  and  his  profession  in 
the  village  of  Western.  His  teaching  was  largely  a 
service  of  love,  and  his  devotion  to  the  College  and  its 
interests  but  one  expression  of  his  constant  zeal  for  moral 
instruction  and  the  inculcation  of  high  Christian  ideals 
in  the  minds  of  youth.  His  pupils  remember  him  as  the 
kindest  hearted  of  teachers,  and  the  sincerest  of  friends 
as  well  as  the  most  logical  of  thinkers.  It  falls  to  the 
lot  of  very  few  teachers  to  leave  in  the  lives  of  those 
under  their  instruction  so  rich  a  heritage  of  earnest,  stim- 
ulating ideals  as  Doctor  Parmenter  imparted  to  those  who 
were  fortunate  enough  to  come  under  his  personal  influ- 
ence in  the  intimate  fellowship  of  the  schoolroom.  He 
remained  a  teacher  in  the  College  until  1860,  most  of 
which  time  he  served  on  the  executive  committee  and 
was  active  in  other  interests  of  the  College.  The  re- 
mainder of  his  life  was  devoted  to  his  profession,  the 

71 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

greater  part  of  it  in  Vermontville,  Michigan.  He  died  at 
Vermontville,  July  4,  1907,  ripe  in  years  and  rich  in  the 
love  of  all  who  had  known  him.  The  following  extract 
from  a  letter  by  Mrs.  Parmenter,  April  19,  1908,  to 
Captain  E.  B.  Soper,  of  Emmetsburg.  Iowa,  will  show 
how  a  quiet  life  of  good  deeds  counts  for  righteousness. 

"Dear  Sir:  I  am  in  receipt  of  yours  of  the  sixteenth 
inst.  to  Doctor  Parmenter,  and  I  write  to  inform  you  of 
his  death,  'his  passing  into  the  life  beyond,'  on  the  fourth 
of  July  last.  As  we  were  married  in  '55,  I  was  with  him 
at  Western,  and  remember  the  names  of  the  students, 
though  I  cannot  recall  their  faces,  and  I  am  happy  to 
know  that  my  husband  is  very  kindly  remembered  by  his 
pupils. 

"We  came  to  Vermontville  in  1863,  when,  with  so  many 
physicians  in  the  army,  his  country  rides  were  long  and 
hard,  and  for  the  last  ten  years  he  was  an  invalid  himself, 
and  now  that  his  sufferings  are  over  he  is,  as  Will  Carle- 
ton  says,  'Entitled  to  a  furlough  for  his  brain  and  for  his 
heart.'  As  you  will  readily  believe,  he  was  active  in 
every  good  that  concerned  the  village,  the  school,  and  the 
church,  and  many  of  the  business  men  who  grew  up  here, 
and  are,  in  some  cases,  in  far-away  homes,  have  sent  me 
testimonials  of  their  loving  appreciation  of  him.  The 
Congregational  minister  of  Yankton  writes,  T  may  forget 
Doctor  Parmenter  as  I  saw  him  in  his  pathetic  decline, 
but  I  can  never  forget  him  as  I  knew  him  from  75  to  '88 
— strong,  steady,  clean,  logical,  physically  courageous, 
morally  heroic,  spiritually  confident.  He  was  always  a 
tonic  to  us  boys.'  Again,  'No  man  who  has  ever  lived  in 
Vermontville  has  a  larger  moral  asset  of  influence  credited 
to  his  account.'  A  successful  physician  of  Grand 
Rapids,  who  began  his  medical  studies  in  Doctor  Par- 

72 


Our  Founders 

menter's  office  forty  years  ago,  writes,  'I  remember  the 
doctor  as  one  of  the  most  unselfish,  most  scholastic,  and 
most  courteous  and  upright  Christian  physicians  I  have 
ever  known.'  " 

Professor  Moses  Willard  Bartlett  is  another  of  the 
pioneer  teachers  at  old  Western  who  deserves  a  greater 
meed  of  praise  than  mere  words  can  bestow.  He  was  a 
pedagogue  almost  from  his  youth,  having  taught  several 
terms  in  Massachusetts  and  New  York  to  procure  the 
means  for  his  own  education.  In  1857  he  was  graduated 
from  Dartmouth  College,  then  as  now  noted  for  its  high 
standard  of  classical  scholarship.  In  January,  1858,  Mr. 
Bartlett  took  up  his  work  at  Western  as  Professor  of 
Latin  and  Greek,  which  position  he  held  until  1867,  a 
remarkably  long  term  of  service,  considering  the  trying 
times  through  which  the  school  passed  during  that  time. 
He  had  inherited  the  New  England  reverence  for  learn- 
ing with  something  of  the  Puritan  devotion  to  unworldly 
ideals  and  undying  loyalty  to  a  cause.  When  others  be- 
came discouraged  and  gave  up,  Professor  Bartlett  stil- 
held  on,  endured  and  hoped,  though  not  always  free  from 
the  pinch  of  poverty.  During  all  his  stay  at  Western 
he  was  a  member  of  the  Executive  Committee,  and  for 
five  years  served  as  college  treasurer,  in  which  office  he 
presented  minute  and  accurate  reports  and  demanded  like 
reports  from  agents  and  others  dealing  with  the  treasury. 
From  1865  to  1867,  the  most  depressing  period  in  the 
history  of  the  College,  Professor  Bartlett  was  principal 
or  acting  president.  In  scholarship  he  was  precise  and 
finished ;  in  personality,  gentle,  patient,  and  gracious ;  in 
character,  high-minded  and  pure.  After  leaving  Western 
College,  Professor  Bartlett  taught  in  Denmark  Academy 
and  Memphis  Academy,  and  later  for  twenty-eight  years 

73 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

was  a  teacher  in  the  Iowa  State  Normal  School.  At  the 
close  of  his  service  in  the  last-named  institution  a  great 
jubilee  celebration,  in  honor  of  Professor  Bartlett's  fifty 
years  in  the  work  of  education,  was  held.  At  present 
writing  he  is  living  with  his  daughter,  631  West  Third 
Street,  Waterloo,  Iowa,  very  feeble  in  health  and 
patiently  waiting  for  release. 

Professor  Ezra  C.  Ebersole,  who  came  to  the  College  as 
Professor  of  Mathematics  in  1863,  has  been  intimately 
associated  with  the  history  of  the  school  ever  since,  most 
of  the  time  in  some  official  capacity.  Coming  as  a  grad- 
uate of  Amherst,  one  of  the  best  of  that  remarkable  group 
of  New  England  colleges,  and  with  his  own  instinctive 
thoroughness,  he  added  to  the  high  standard  of  scholar- 
ship and  efficiency  the  College  had  already  attained. 
There  was  an  unpretentious  dignity  about  him,  and  a 
constant  air  of  orderliness  that  compelled  respect  and  won 
unconscious  obedience.  A  student  of  those  days  remarks, 
"That  man  Ebersole  was  a  prince  among  men.  He 
taught  us  mathematics  efficiently,  but  he  taught  us  other 
things  worth  more  than  mathematics ;  he  did  not  tell  us 
to  keep  order,  but  we  kept  order  just  the  same."  When, 
in  1864,  a  new  enlistment  for  the  Union  Army  was  being 
made  at  Western,  Professor  Ebersole,  with  many  others 
both  within  and  outside  the  school,  enlisted  and  went  to 
the  front.  In  June,  1865,  he  resigned  his  position  and  en- 
gaged in  other  work  for  two  years.  The  darkest  days, 
perhaps,  that  the  College  had  yet  seen,  came  in  1867. 
Finances  were  at  a  very  low  ebb,  teachers  were  discour- 
aged and  giving  up  their  positions,  the  student  attendance 
was  small,  much  dissatisfaction  existed,  and  local 
support  was  divided.  At  this  juncture  a  committee  from 
Western  called  upon  Professor  Ebersole,  then  visiting  in 

74 


Our  Founders 

Cedar  Rapids,  and  urged  him  to  take  the  management  of 
the  school.  This  he  agreed  to  do  on  condition  that  he  be 
given  a  free  hand  both  in  the  government  and  in  the  man- 
agement, a  condition  which  was  very  readily  assented  to. 
That  year  was  one  of  the  crisis  periods  of  the  school,  and 
to  Professor  Ebersole  is  due  largely  the  fact  that  the 
crisis  was  passed  in  safety.  The  old  rules,  many  of  them 
arbitrary  and  multiplied  like  the  Rabbinical  laws  until 
they  became  an  endless  vexation,  were  still  in  force,  at 
least  nominally.  The  first  official  act  of  the  new  principal 
was  to  proclaim  the  one  rule,  "Behave  yourselves  like 
ladies  and  gentlemen."  The  next  was  to  seek  the  hearty 
cooperation  of  students  and  townspeople  in  the  real  suc- 
cess of  the  school.  This  effort  was  so  far  successful 
that  the  year  closed  with  greater  unanimity  of  feeling  and 
stronger  hopes  than  had  been  experienced  for  some  time. 
Attendance  increased  before  the  year  was  out,  and  a  mass 
meeting  of  students,  held  in  the  College  chapel  in  June, 
sent  each  one  out  as  a  zealous  missionary  to  bring  in  other 
students  for  next  year,  a  campaign  so  successful  that  the 
next  term  found  the  attendance  practically  doubled.  So 
well  pleased  was  the  Board  with  Professor  Ebersole's 
administration  that  it  elected  him  president  for  the 
next  school  year.  In  the  meantime,  however,  President 
Ebersole  had  been  offered  a  position  in  the  State  Univer- 
sity of  Iowa,  but,  though  he  felt  it  to  be  to  his  interest  to 
accept,  he  would  not  do  so  until  he  found,  largely  through 
his  personal  efforts,  a  satisfactory  man  for  the  work  at 
Western.  Such  a  person  was  found  in  President  E.  B. 
Kephart,  with  whom  began  a  new  era  for  Western 
College. 

After  two  years  as  Associate  Professor  of  Greek  and 
Latin  in  the  State  University  and  one  year  as  principal 

75 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

of  the  Cedar  Rapids  High  School,  Mr.  Ebersole  came  to 
Toledo,  Iowa,  in  1873,  and  began  the  practice  of  law,  a 
profession  in  which  he  still  continues.  When  the  ques- 
tion of  relocating  the  College  was  being  agitated,  Mr. 
Ebersole,  seconded  by  Mrs.  Dillman,  secured  from  the 
citizens  of  Toledo  the  proposition  that  brought  the  Col- 
lege to  its  final  seat  in  this  city.  Since  then  he  has  been 
the  legal  adviser  of  the  College  on  all  matters,  and  has 
served  twenty-one  years  on  the  Executive  Committee. 
When  the  endowment  was  secured  in  1906  and  the  Col- 
lege authorities  needed  a  safe  and  capable  man  to  super- 
intend the  investing  and  guarding  of  those  funds,  they 
instinctively  turned  to  Mr.  Ebersole,  and  he  was  made 
financial  secretary  of  the  institution.  After  the  endow- 
ment fund  was  all  placed  and  the  business  of  the  College 
had  been  reduced  to  accurate  methods,  he  laid  down  all 
other  duties  of  his  office,  except  those  relating  to  endow- 
ment, which  latter  duties  he  continued  to  perform  under 
the  title  of  endowment  secretary  until  1910,  much  to  the 
gratification  of  the  College  authorities  and  especially  of 
Major  Clark. 

Mr.  Ebersole  has  always  been  a  conscientious,  method- 
ical worker,  a  man  of  deliberate  and  sound  judgment,  and 
of  unflinching  integrity.  Though  naturally  shrinking  from 
public  office,  he  often  found  offices  pressed  upon  him,  and 
when  he  accepted  the  office  it  was  in  the  spirit  of  a  right- 
eous obligation.  Even  when  not  in  office,  he  spent  as 
much  thought  on  the  public  welfare  as  on  his  own  inter- 
ests, and  his  greatest  passion  was  for  the  prevalence  of 
private  and  civic  righteousness  as  the  rule  of  conduct 
among  men.  Mr.  Ebersole's  chief  public  services  to  the 
local  community  and  to  his  country  have  been  as  reporter 
of  the  supreme  court  of  Iowa  for  eight  years,  member  of 

76 


Our  Founders 

the  State  board  of  law  examiners  since  its  organization, 
author  of  ''The  Encyclopedia  of  Iowa  Law,"  a  monumen- 
tal work  representing  fifteen  years  of  conscientious  labor, 
and  editor  of  the  Iowa  Code,  1897. 

Miss  Hester  A.  Hillis,  sister  of  Newell  Dwight  Hillis, 
though  but  two  years  a  teacher  in  Western  College,  im- 
pressed her  intense  personality  and  pure  spiritual  con- 
viction so  deeply  upon  the  individual  and  collective  life  of 
the  school  that  her  memory  has  become  one  of  the  most 
precious  legacies  of  those  early  days.  She  gave  up  her 
school  work  in  order  to  go  as  a  missionary  to  Ceylon, 
where  she  served  from  1868  to  1880;  after  four  years  in 
America  she  returned  and  took  up  work  in  Singeranni, 
India,  where,  during  the  famine  of  1887,  she  literally  gave 
her  life  for  the  people.  The  following  from  the  pen  of 
Rev.  R.  E.  Williams,  class  of  72,  is  typical  of  what  many 
could  say  of  Miss  Hillis :  "While  all  my  teachers  took  a 
great  interest  in  me,  both  as  to  my  temporal  and  spiritual 
welfare,  to  no  one  do  I  owe  more  than  to  Miss  Hillis. 
She  was  a  noble,  conscientious  Christian  worker.  If  I 
have  not  been  misinformed  she  starved  to  death  while  a 
missionary  on  the  island  of  Ceylon.  Many  of  the  natives 
were  dying  of  starvation,  and  her  great,  loving,  tender 
heart  could  not  bear  to  see  them  starving  while  she  had 
plenty  for  herself,  so  she  divided  what  she  had  with  them 
and  with  them  died."  The  death  of  Miss  Hillis  occurred 
in  1887  during  her  term  in  India,  substantially  as  related 
by  Doctor  Williams. 

Space  forbids  detailed  mention  of  the  other  early 
teachers  whose  influences  counted  in  making  up  the  full 
amount  of  aspiration  and  beneficent  endeavor  for  which 
the  College  came  to  stand— of  Dr.  H.  A.  Thompson,  most 
of  whose  laurels  were  won  in  other  fields;  of  Jennie 

77 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

Miller,  whose  untimely  death  invested  her  life  story  with 
an  added  pathos;  of  Dr.  Homer  R.  Page,  gratefully  re- 
membered for  his  quiet  worth;  of  William  Davis,  the 
man  of -God,  president  for  one  year;  of  D.  A.  Tawney, 
the  brilliant  speaker  and  inspiring  singer;  of  Frances  E. 
Spencer,  who  brought  a  touch  of  eastern  culture  to  our 
frontier  school ;  of  Francis  Kun,  whose  old  world  store 
of  classic  learning  is  still  a  tradition  in  the  College;  and 
many  others  who  belong  rather  to  the  transition  period 
or  later  times. 

As  a  fitting  close  to  this  account  of  the  founders  and 
early  teachers  of  Western  College,  it  is  peculiarly  appro- 
priate to  append  the  following  extract  from  a  paper  by 
Dr.  E.  R.  Smith,  read  at  the  Alumni  Banquet,  June  8, 
1910,  as  part  of  the  Quadrennial  Celebration,  under  the 
title,  "The  Old  Guard." 

"Have  you  ever  thought  of  the  struggles  of  the  pioneers 
of  this  College,  of  the  privations,  of  the  sublime  faith  in 
the  ultimate  success  of  their  efforts  ?  Many  of  these  had 
come  from  homes  of  refinement  and  from  colleges  in  the 
east,  all  from  good,  sturdy  stock.  In  this  western 
country  of  their  choice  there  grew  up  around  the  College 
a  little  hamlet  of  refined,  educated,  God-fearing  people  of 
whom  the  world  was  not  worthy.  Many  of  these  died  in 
the  faith  not  having  received  the  promise,  but  having  seen 
it  afar  off.  Truly,  if  they  had  been  mindful  of  that 
country  from  which  they  came  they  might  have  had 
opportunity  to  have  returned ;  but  they,  by  faith,  as  it 
were,  passed  through  the  Red  Sea  of  adversity  and  mis- 
fortune. 

"And  what  more  shall  I  say  ?  For  the  time  would  fail 
me  to  tell  of  Solomon,  Ezekiel,  Ezra,  Isaiah,  Job,  Abram, 
Cyrus,    Daniel,    Barzillia,    Benjamin,    and    James,    who, 

78 


Our  Founders 

through  faith  subdued  passion,  wrought  righteousness, 
obtained  promises,  out  of  weakness  were  made  strong, 
waxed  valiant  in  fight.     These  are  'The  Old  Guard.'  " 

EARLY  STUDENTS. 

"The  years  1859-61  were  golden  ones  in  the  history  of 
the  College.  The  faculty,  though  not  large,  contained 
able  men.  The  student  body  was  exceptionally  fine ;  Iowa 
and  northern  Illinois  had  sent  her  best,  for  Western  was 
the  first  in  the  field.  In  1859  there  was  no  college  at 
Grinnell,  but  a  small  conference  seminary  at  Mount 
Vernon,  and  a  mere  beginning  at  Iowa  City.  Students 
came  there  from  Iowa  City,  Cedar  Rapids,  and  other 
cities  which  later  had  their  own  institutions.  The  stu- 
dents, too,  were  older  on  the  average,  I  should  say,  than 
the  corresponding  classes  would  be  to-day — 150  to  175 
men  and  women.  The  spirit  and  enthusiasm  were  most 
contagious  and  inspiring. 

"Much  of  this  was  due  to  Professor  Parmenter,  a  thor- 
ough scholar,  an  earnest  Christian,  a  polished  gentleman, 
and  a  born  teacher.  Not  to  disparage  others,  he  seemed 
the  very  soul  of  the  institution,  wielding  an  influence  over 
the  students  he  perhaps  hardly  suspected." 

The  above,  from  W.  T.  Jackson,  first  classical  graduate 
of  the  College,  gives  concisely  the  general  characteristic  of 
the  early  student  body.  As  no  catalogues  were  issued  in 
those  days  and  no  complete  lists  of  students  seem  to  have 
been  preserved,  the  historian  is  dependent  upon  the 
memories  of  students  who  were  there  in  attendance,  and 
upon  an  occasional  program  preserved  by  some  one  more 
thoughtful  than  his  fellows.  The  oldest  program,  and 
for  that  reason  invested  with  peculiar  interest,  that  of 
the  first  "Exhibition"  in  1858,  has  been  given  in  a  pre- 

79 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

ceding  chapter.  To  a  fellow  student  the  mere  sight  of 
these  names  will  be  sufficient  to  open  the  floodgates  of 
memory  and  bring  back  scenes  of  those  days,  some  vivid 
and  never-to-be-forgotten,  and  some  in  that  shadowy 
borderland  of  half-remembered  things.  To  the  younger 
members  of  the  college  family  these  may  be  only  names 
until  invested  with  personality  and  human  interest  by 
the  recital  of  the  life  stories  belonging  to  the  names.  It 
is  a  pleasure  to  be  able  to  give  a  few  representative  sto- 
ries from  the  period,  using  to  some  extent  the  editor's 
prerogative  of  selection  and  condensation.  The  most 
valuable  collection  of  data  and  reminiscences  concerning 
the  early  students  of  the  College  that  the  historian  has 
received,  was  presented  by  Captain  E.  B.  Soper,  in  the 
form  of  letters  he  had  solicited  from  his  schoolmates 
about  themselves  and  one  another.  These  letters  look 
back  over  a  span  of  fifty  years  and  serve  to  strengthen 
the  conviction  that  school  days  and  school  friendships 
furnish  life's  later  years  their  fondest  memories  and  their 
most  prized  legacies.  Written  for  the  most  part  by  men 
and  women  who  have  made  a  distinguished  success  of 
life,  even  in  the  sense  in  which  the  world  esteems  success, 
the  letters  reflect  the  subduing,  hallowing  influences  of 
those  earlier  experiences  and  their  unconscious  intrusion 
into  the  later  practical  affairs,  and  show  the  supreme 
valuation  old  age  comes  to  place  upon  human  fellowship 
and  human  kindness.  Captain  Soper  has  won  the  heart- 
felt gratitude  of  his  classmates  by  patiently  collecting 
these  reminiscences  of  half  a  century  ago,  and  these  bits 
of  personal  history;  we  also  of  the  later  generation  owe 
him  a  debt  of  gratitude  for  showing  us  a  quiet  evening 
picture  of  the  older  family  circle,  a  kind  of  mirror  of  our 
life's  afternoon  and  our  instinctive  turning  back  to  the 

80 


REV.  E.  B.  KEPHART,  D.D. 
President  through  thirteen  important  years  1868-1881 


Our  Founders 

old  home  ties  formed  under  the  fostering  care  of  our 
common  mother.  The  following  letter,  written  by  Cap- 
tain Soper,  will  explain  itself : 

"Emmetsburg,  Iowa,  Oct.  30,  1908. 
"To  the  President  of  Leander  Clark  College,  Toledo,  la. 
"Dear  Sir  :  I  was  a  student  of  Western  College,  begin- 
ning March  4,  1857,  about  the  middle  of  the  first  term  of 
school,  and  continued  the  most  of  the  time  from  then  up 
to  April,  1861,  when  I  enlisted  in  Company  K,  12th  Iowa 
Volunteers,  from  Cedar  Rapids,  with  some  twelve  other 
students,  then  having  completed  the  freshman  year.  I 
was  among  the  very  early  members  of  the  Young  Men's 
Institute,  the  leading  literary  society  then  in  the  school. 
During  the  last  six  months  or  more,  I  have  been,  for  my 
own  amusement,  looking  up  some  of  my  old  school- 
fellows in  those  early  years  of  the  College  who  are  still 
living,  and  I  thought  perhaps  that  these  letters  may  be 
worth  preserving  in  your  museum  or  library,  as  giving 
some  account  of  the  subsequent  lives  of  the  men  who 
were  its  early  students ;  and  with  that  in  view,  I  enclose 
you  herewith  letters  from  Dr.  D.  B.  Bobb,  a  physician 
at  Dakota,  111. ;  Mr.  T.  G.  Smith,  an  attorney  at  Hunting- 
ton, Ind. ;  Mr.  Wallace  C.  McCanon,  a  doctor  now  at 
Moline,  111. ;  John  J.  Lamm,  a  farmer  of  Sedalia,  Mo. ; 
Rev.  W.  T.  Jackson,  one  of  the  alumni  of  your  College, 
who  also  was  there  with  us  during  the  years  mentioned ; 
and  Mr.  L.  E.  Weaver,  a  son  of  old  President  Weaver. 
These  letters  give  some  account  of  others  who  were  stu- 
dents in  the  College  in  those  early  days,  what  became  of 
them,  and  what  their  success  in  life  has  been.  I 
enclose  you  a  letter  from  the  widow  of  Dr.  Wm.  Par- 
menter,  who  was  one  of  the  first  professors  at  Western, 
being  also  a   physician,   and   who,   in   about    1860,   left 

81 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

Western  and  went  to  Michigan  to  practice  his  profession ; 
a  letter  from  Kate  A.  Lord,  nee  Weaver,  daughter  of 
President  Weaver,  who  was  during  those  years  a  girl  of 
from  ten  to  fourteen ;  also  letters  from  Mrs.  Virginia  H. 
Collier,  who  was  also  a  student  during  those  years.  I 
suggest  that  these  letters  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  some 
one  who  is  interested  in  preserving  matters  relating  to 
the  early  history  of  the  institution  and  its  students, 
and  such  of  the  letters  as  are  thought  to  be  of  sufficient 
value  to  preserve,  and  to  destroy  the  remainder.  A  num- 
ber of  these  letters  are  from  different  members  who  were 
on  the  annual  exhibition  program  for  1858.  If  you  have 
a  copy  of  the  program,  you  will  see  that  Bobb,  Smith, 
McCanon,  myself,  and,  I  think,  Weaver  and  Lamm,  and 
perhaps  others  were  on  the  program.  Smith  sent  me  a 
copy  of  the  1857  program  along  in  the  spring:  I  had  pho- 
tographic copies  made  of  it,  and  thought  I  had  one  in 
hand,  but  do  not  find  it  now.  If  it  comes  to  hand  before 
I  mail  these  letters,  I  will  enclose  you  a  copy,  or,  if  you 
would  like  to  have  one  to  preserve,  I  will  have  another 
printed  from  the  negative  here  for  you. 

"I  went  to  Western  College  in  1857  because  it  was  a 
manual  labor  school,  and  it  was  reported  that  students 
could  pay  from  one-half  to  three-fourths  of  their  ex- 
penses by  labor.  My  people  were  Baptists.  We  came 
to  Iowa  in  1847,  lived  in  the  southwest  corner  of  Fair- 
view  Township,  in  Jones  County.  There  were  three  of. 
us  boys,  two  from  Anamosa  and  myself,  entered  school 
at  the  same  time.  I  practiced  manual  labor  during  the 
years  I  was  there,  and,  I  suppose,  paid  at  least  one-half 
of  my  expenses  from  '57  to  '59,  teaching  school  in  the 
winters  of  '59,  '60,  and  '61,  when  I  was  supporting 
myself  entirely.      When  I  returned  from  the  army,  in 

82 


Our  Founders 

1868,  I  entered  school  at  Cornell  College,  Mount  Vernon, 
Iowa,  and  graduated  in  1868,  which  institution  has  con- 
ferred upon  me  at  different  times  the  degrees  of  A.B., 
A.M.,  and  LL.D. 

"I  am  quite  familiar  with  the  subsequent  lives  of  the 
students  who  were  in  school  at  the  time  that  I  was,  and 
I  suppose  there  are  really  but  few  of  them  but  that  I 
can  give  an  account  of  their  subsequent  doings,  and  what 
they  were  and  what  they  became. 

"Very  truly  yours, 

"E.  B.  Soper." 

The  first  letter  is  from  Thomas  G.  Smith,  now  a  dis- 
tinguished and  prosperous  lawyer  of  Huntington,  In- 
diana, still  actively  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion. He  came  to  Western  in  April,  1858,  left  in  June, 
1860.  Coming  as  he  did  from  the  heavily  timbered 
country  of  Indiana,  he  was  deeply  impressed  by  the  limit- 
less grandeur  and  varied  beauty  of  the  Iowa  prairie, 
first  seen  under  the  charmed  touch  of  the  springtime.  In 
his  "reminiscences,"  he  says,  "Some  trees  were  planted 
that  spring  on  the  campus  a  short  distance  east  of  the 
college  building,  in  which  planting  the  writer  took  part ; 
the  trees  grew  finely.  To  the  north  and  east  of  the  Col- 
lege for  miles  the  prairie  was  unbroken  and  presented  an 
enchanting  view  in  the  spring  and  summer  time  in  its 
virgin  state  and  clothed  with  wild  flowers  of  various 
hues,  making  an  impression  on  my  youthful  mind  never 
to  be  forgotten. 

"A  short  distance  from  the  College,  in  a  northwesterly 
direction,  was  situated  what  was  called  the  college  farm, 
consisting  of  a  fine  large  tract  of  rich  black  prairie  soil ; 
and  to  a  "Hoosier"  boy  who  had  grown  up  in  a  heavily 

83 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

timbered  country  and  had  combated  the  stumps  and  roots 
in  an  attempt  to  farm  the  cleared  land,  the  farming  of 
this  nice  prairie  land  was  as  good  as  play,  and  many  an 
hour  did  he  pass  pleasantly  assisting  with  the  farm  work 
under  the  supervision  of  Mr.  Tallman,  late  of  Fairfield 
County,  Ohio." 

The  following  are  the  letters  to  Captain  Soper : 

^Huntington,  Ind.,  April  7,  1908. 

"My  Dear  Friend  :  I  was  so  delighted  to  receive  your 
welcome  communication.  It  brought  back  fresh  to  my 
recollection  many  occurrences  of  fifty  years  ago,  for  it 
will  be  fifty  years  on  the  eighteenth  day  of  this  month, 
since  I  arrived  at  'Western  College'  in  1858,  and  soon 
after  my  arrival  there  made  your  acquaintance.  Here  is 
food  for  thought ;  a  full  half  century  ago !  how  delighted  I 
would  be  to  take  a  good  shake  of  your  hand  that  I  last 
grasped  when  we  were  only  boys  with  our  youthful  hopes 
and  aspirations  for  the  future.  It  seems  to  me  I  could 
write  a  volume  about  those  halcyon  days,  but  will  have 
to  be  contented  to  confine  myself  to  decent  limits,  else 
I  would  inflict  too  great  a  task  upon  you  in  asking  you  to 
decipher  my  writing  to  any  great  extent,  for  I  never  was, 
perhaps  never  will  be,  a  penman.  It  affords  me  great 
pleasure  to  learn  of  your  health,  vigor,  and  prosperity, 
for  I  fully  realized  that  with  that  good  kind  heart  and 
manly  disposition  that  I  once  knew  would  develop  just 
such  a  man  as  you  deserved  to  be  and  which  I  believe 
you  are. 

"I  will  now  give  you,  as  far  as  I  can  recall,  a  sketch 
of  the  whereabouts  of  some  of  our  college  mates  of  old. 
About  thirty  years  ago,  J.  C.  Burkholder  lived  in  Hunt- 
ington and  preached  to  the  Baptist  people  here,  but  left 

84 


Our  Founders 

many  years  ago,  and  was  in  Iowa  the  last  time  I  heard 
of  him. 

"J.  C.  Coolman  was  killed  near  Independence,  Mo., 
during  the  Civil  War.  Riley  Draper  is  living  at  Hudson, 
Colo.  Charles  Little  committed  suicide  at  Littleton, 
Iowa,  many  years  ago.  I  met  Julia  Bolenbaugh  in  Lin- 
coln, Neb.,  about  thirty  years  ago.  She  and  her  husband 
were  stopping  at  the  same  hotel  as  myself,  but  I  have 
never  heard  from  her  since.  Our  old  Professor  Wm.  Par- 
menter  has  been  practicing  medicine  in  Vermontville, 
Mich.,  for  many  years.  Professor  Bartlett  was  at  Cedar 
Falls,  Iowa,  the  last  I  heard  from  him  long  ago.  Pro- 
fessor Dillman  died  a  great  many  years  ago  and  his  widow 
was  residing  at  Toledo,  Iowa  (the  present  location  of 
Western  College).  W.  T.  Jackson  married  Miss  Shuey, 
of  Shueyville,  and  the  last  I  heard  from  them  they 
were  living  at  Fostoria,  Ohio,  where  he  was  superintend- 
ent of  the  high  school.  I  enclose  a  copy  of  a  program 
that  I  think  will  interest  you,  and  I  trust  you  will  enjoy 
it  and  be  certain  to  return  it  to  me.  All  I  ask  in  exchange 
for  giving  you  the  privilege  of  studying  this  very  historic 
paper  is  to  send  me  a  copy  of  your  oration  upon  that 
occasion,  for  considering  how  soon  thereafter  the  Civil 
War  occurred,  the  subject  is  very  ominous,  and  you  may 
have  said  or  done  something  upon  that  occasion  to 
hasten  it  on.  But  now,  dear  college  mate,  I  have  already 
made  this  too  long  and  will  close  for  the  present,  "to  be 
continued"  when  I  hear  from  you  again ;  put  in  a  lot 
about  yourself  and  I  will  do  the  same  in  reply.  Now 
believe  me,  your  warm  and  abiding  friend, 

"As  ever, 

"f.  G.  Smith." 


85 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

"Huntington,  Ind.,  May  30,  1908. 
"My  Dear  Friend  :  Learning  from  your  last  letter  that 
you  would  be  away  from  home  until  about  June  first,  I 
delayed  answering  until  now,  and  I  wish  to  say  that  I 
very  much  appreciate  the  renewal  of  our  old  college  ac- 
quaintance and  to  receive  from  you  copies  of  letters  from 
other  dear  college  mates  of  the  days  of  yore  spent  on 
the  beautiful  prairie  of  Iowa,  and  I  comply  with  your 
request  and  return  to  you  herewith  the  dear  good  letter 
from  our  sterling,  dear,  true,  Christian  friend,  D.  B.  Bobb. 
I  remember  him  as  a  young  man  of  sterling  character  and 
worth,  and  from  his  letter  I  infer  that  he  has  lived  a  good, 
pure  life  and  is  enjoying  the  fruits  of  his  well  doing. 
Nothing  could  have  been  of  more  interest  to  me  than  to 
read  the  sketch  of  your  life  as  you  sent  it  and  hoping 
that  I  may  please  you  by  returning  in  kind.  I  will  briefly 
sketch  some  of  my  doings  since  I  last  saw  you  and  said 
'good-bye'  in  1858  at  the  beautiful  little  village  of 
Western.  I  went  north  to  Independence,  Buchanan 
County,  to  visit  some  relatives,  and  on  the  fourth  of  July 
accepted  employment  to  teach  a  school,  commencing  im- 
mediately at  the  village  of  Littleton,  post  office,  Chatham. 
Taught  a  fall  term  of  three  months  and  a  winter  term  of 
four  months,  and  then  returned  to  Western  and  attended 
spring  and  fall  months :  taught  at  Littleton  again  the  next 
winter,  then  returned  to  Western  for  the  spring  term  in 
1860,  and  when  that  closed  I  returned  to  Indiana  and 
engaged  in  merchandising,  and  on  August  16,  1860,  mar- 
ried 'the  girl  I  left  behind  me'  (when  I  went  to  West- 
ern"). Succeeded  well  in  chasing  and  overtaking  a  few 
dollars.  On  August  16,  1868,  my  dear  good  wife  died, 
leaving  me  with  two  good,  sprightly,  helpless  children, 
Ida  A.  and  Wm.  Seward.     Both  have  families  of  their 

86 


Our  Founders 

own  now  and  are  well  fixed  and  honored  citizens  of  the 
realm.  Wm.  S.  is  a  stockholder  and  cashier  of  a  prosper- 
ous bank.  I  remained  in  merchandising  until  1873  and 
accumulated  enough  property  to  feel  quite  comfortable. 
Then  went  into  the  law  office  of  General  James  R. 
Slack  to  study  law,  and  when  he  became  judge  of  our 
court,  I  completed  my  studies  in  the  office  of  W.  H. 
Trammel  (a  man  6  feet  3  in.  tall).  Engaged  in  the 
general  practice  of  law,  have  enjoyed  it  very  much, 
and  am  still  actively  scrapping  away.  I  believed  from 
the  start  that  I  was  fit  for  nothing  else  but  a  lawyer,  and 
have  never  changed  my  mind  on  the  subject.  Now  recur- 
ring a  little,  I  will  say  that  on  January  30,  1870,  I  re- 
married; my  wife  is  a  charming  woman,  who  has  been 
a  queenly  companion  for  over  thirty-eight  years,  a  noble 
mother  to  my  children,  and  is  to-day  all  in  all  to  me. 
We  have  confined  our  travels  to  the  United  States  so  far, 
but  we  are  both  in  the  very  prime  of  good  health  and 
vigor  and  feel  that  we  are  now  so  circumstanced  that  we 
can  take  a  'day  off,'  and  are  planning  to  do  so  in  the  near 
future.  In  fact,  we  would  now  be  away  were  it  not  for 
the  critical  illness  of  Mrs.  Smith's  dear  old  father,  whom 
we  do  not  expect  to  survive  his  present  illness.  We  have 
been  so  abundantly  blessed  with  good  health,  good 
friends,  and  prosperity  that  words  fail  to  express  our 
gratitude  to  our  Creator  and  Redeemer.  We  have  a 
good  standing  as  members  of  the  great  and  grand  old 
M.  E.  Church. 

"I  received  the  Conference  Advocate  you  sent  me  and 
thank  you  for  it,  was  pleased  to  learn  that  you  are  an 
honored  member  of  "our  church"  as  Mrs.  Smith  calls 
it;  you  would  need  no  further  credential  than  such  a 
membership  with  us,  but  I  have  now  written  more  than 

87 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

enough  to  tire  you  out  in  trying  to  decipher  it.  So  will 
close  for  the  present,  but  hope  to  hear  from  you  fre- 
quently.    With  kindest  regards  and  friendship,  I  am, 

"Yours, 

"T.  G.  Smith." 

The  next  letter  is  from  \Y.  T.  Jackson,  now  rector  of 
the  Episcopal  Church,  Mt.  Pleasant,  Iowa.  He  is  recalled 
by  the  old  boys  as  the  best  student  in  college  in  the  early 
days,  a  reputation  fully  sustained  by  his  subsequent 
record,  which  may  be  found  in  the  Alumni  Register  as 
"No.  1." 

"Emmetsburg,  Iowa,  Sept.  20,  1908. 

"My  Dear  Captain  Soper  :  You  are  deserving  of  great 
credit  for  your  researches  among  the  old  students  of 
Western  College.  We  were  very  glad  to  hear  of  Lucian 
and  Kate  Weaver,  and  to  see  copies  of  their  letters,  with 
news  of  M.  W.  Bartlett  and  wife,  the  Hills,  L.  M.  Scrib- 
ner,  Mollie  Stiles,  J.  J.  Lamm,  A.  M.  Blanchard,  Bobb, 
A.  Jennie  Miller,  Amelia  Miller  Perry,  etc. 

"I  remember  Lucian  Weaver  very  well,  dark-haired, 
slow-moving,  and  slow  of  speech.  The  other  boys  were 
red-haired,  freckle-faced,  and  more  impulsive,  and  so 
were  the  girls.  Kate  I  remember  only  as  a  little  girl. 
So  Mrs.  Bartlett  has  gone,  and  her  parents,  also.  I  boarded 
with  them  some  two  years;  very  kind  people.  Poor 
Scribner  used  to  sing  tenor  and  lead  the  choir  at  exercises. 
He  fell  considerably  behind  Isaac  Berger — had  no  such 
voice.  Blanchard  used  to  make  lots  of  merriment  in 
giving  in  his  Monday  reports  on  keeping  the  rules.  He 
had  a  perfect  passion,  like  a  darky,  for  big  words,  rum- 
maging in  the  dictionary  at  all  times  and  then  displaying 
his"  finds.     It  would  make  a  dog  laugh  to  hear  him  soberly 

88 


Our  Founders 

answering  Uncle  Solomon  or  Professor  Parmenter  or 
Bartlett  in  the  most  stilted,  high-flying  jargon  you  ever 
heard.  Bobb  I  remember  as  a  tall,  neat,  clean,  light- 
complexioned  fellow  with  some  slight  impediment  in  his 
speech,  as  if  he  were  Pennsylvania  Dutch.  Poor  Miss 
Miller's  life  and  death  were  a  tragedy  that  began  at 
Otterbein  University,  Ohio.  She  was  infatuated  with 
Professor  Tawney;  following  him  to  Western,  she  be- 
came lady  principal,  he  professor  of  mathematics.  He 
sought  to  avoid  her,  she  could  not  avoid  him,  became  sick, 
lost  her  mind,  went  to  Cedar  Rapids  in  care  of  Doctor 
Mansfield,  and  died  there.  They  ought  never  both  to 
have  come  to  Western.  Zaver  I  forget ;  Mollie  Stiles, 
Jennie  Collier,  Sadie  Dickman,  and  Amelia  Perry  I  recall. 
"I  return  copies  and  thank  you  very  much  for  sending 
them.  "Very  truly  yours, 

"W.  f .  Jackson." 

The  next  letter  is  from  the  pen  of  Mrs.  C.  C.  Lord, 
formerly  Miss  Kate  A.  Weaver,  daughter  of  President 
Weaver. 

"Valley  Falls,  Sept.  22,  1908. 
"Mr.  E.  B.  Soper,  Emmetsburg,  Iowa. 

"Dear  Sir  :  Your  letter  with  those  of  other  'old  West- 
ern' students  received,  sent  me  by  brother  L.  E.,  for 
which  I  wish  to  express  my  sincere  appreciation  to  you 
for  your  kindness.  While  I  was  not  old  enough  to  be  a 
classmate  of  yourself  and  those  whose  letters  you  en- 
closed, yet  I  remember  them  and  you  quite  well,  and 
through  those  have  learned  much  of  interest  to  me.  I 
was  especially  pleased  to  learn  of  the  whereabouts  of  my 
old  playmates,  Sally  Perry  and  Sadie  Dickman.  I  had 
known  the  former's  name  was  Kephart,  but  was  surprised 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

to  learn  that  she  is  the  wife  of  President  Kephart,  of 
Western,  now  Leander  Clark  College.  Professor  Eber- 
sole,  of  Toledo,  very  kindly  remembered  me  by  sending 
me  a  souvenir  book  of  the  College  at  Christmas  time  last 
year,  in  which  I  found  much  of  interest  to  me. 

"I  presume  that  brother  L.  E.,  has  told  you  all  of  interest 
regarding  our  family,  so  it  will  not  be  necessary  for  me 
to  add  more  or  repeat.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  Valley  Falls 
has  been  my  home  since  1871.  We  have  a  very  pleasant, 
comfortable  home,  and  I  assure  you  the  latch-string  is 
always  on  the  outside  for  any  of  the  old  Western  friends 
who  chance  to  come  this  way.  I  always  think  of  any 
of  the  old  students  of  that  College  as  friends.  I  think 
it  is  so  kind  of  you  to  undertake  such  a  herculean  task  as 
that  of  getting  trace  of  and  communicating  with  so  many 
of  them,  and  thank  you  heartily  for  remembering  me  as 
one  of  the  number.  It  is  quite  a  surprise  to  me  to  find 
that  so  many  of  them  are  members  of  and  workers  in 
the  M.  E.  Church.  I  am  also  among  that  number,  and 
that  seems  to  me  another  tie  to  bind  us  together.  It  may 
seem  strange  that  I  should  be,  more  so,  perhaps,  than 
many  of  the  rest  of  you,  being  brought  up  from  a  child 
in  the  U.  B.  Church,  but  for  years  my  home  has  been 
where  there  were  none  of  that  denomination  and  I  could 
not  afford  to  be  without  a  church  home.  Really,  I  see 
very  little  difference  anyway,  so  have  cast  in  my  lot 
with  those  I  thought  nearest  in  church  doctrine  to  my 
own,  and  I  find  it  as  good  a  place  to  work  in  and  worship. 

"The  program  you  enclosed  recalled  to  my  mind  many 
exhibitions,  as  they  were  called,  held  at  old  Western.  I 
was  much  pleased  to  see  once  again  a  program  of  one  of 
them,  and  yet  there  was  a  sadness  in  looking  over  the 
names  of  those  taking  part,  as  two  of  them  were  those 

90 


Our  Founders 

of  ones  very  dear  to  me,  who  have  passed  over  and  are 
now  with  many  of  other  dear  Western  friends  awaiting 
our  coming  on  the  other  shore.  I  fear  I  am  making  my 
letter  too  lengthy,  so  will  desist  for  this  time.  Will  send 
letters  on  to  brother  Mart  as  requested.  Again  let  me 
thank  you  for  your  kindness  in  sending  them  for  my 
perusal ;  I  do  not  tire  of  reading  them  over  and  over. 

"Sincerely  yours, 

"Kate  A.  Lord." 

The  next  is  from  Dr.  W.  C.  McCanon,  a  retired  physi- 
cian, now  of  Moline,  111. 

"March  31,  1908. 

"My  Old  Friend  and  Brother  :  I  was  surprised  and 
delighted  to  receive  a  letter  from  you.  It  recalled  many 
pleasant  reminiscences,  in  some  of  which  you  were  a 
participant.  We  were  the"  young  men,  with  apparently 
bright  prospects  before  us,  some  of  which  I  have  realized 
and  others  have  been  quite  failures. 

"I  have  not  kept  track  of  many  of  the  old  students  of 
Western  College.  Doctor  Bobb  and  I  have  been  in  cor- 
respondence most  of  the  time  since  leaving  Western.  I 
look  upon  him  as  one  of  God's  noble  men,  a  devout 
Christian,  true  as  steel,  one  in  whom  I  have  great  confi- 
dence and  whom  I  delight  to  count  as  a  friend  and 
brother. 

"I,  too,  have  led  a  busy  life ;  for  over  thirty-six  years  I 
have  been  a  physician,  but  for  the  last  five  years  I  have 
not  done  much  in  my  profession.  I  have  always  been  an 
active  church  worker.  Up  to  about  twelve  years  ago  I 
was  identified  with  the  Christian  Church.  About  that 
time  wife  and  I  learned  the  way  of  the  Lord  more  per- 
fectly and  severed  our  connection  with  that  church.   Since 

91 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

then  we  have  enjoyed  ourselves  religiously  as  we  never 
did  before. 

"We  are  glad  to  learn  of  your  prosperity  in  temporal 
things,  and  also  to  note  your  interest  in  religious  matters, 
which,  as  I  look  at  things,  is  of  superlative  importance. 

"Remember  me  very  kindly  to  your  most  excellent  help- 
meet, of  whose  hospitality  I  was  a  partaker  some  fifteen 
or  eighteen  years  ago,  when  in  Emmetsburg,  I  dropped  in 
on  you  unawares. 

"When  convenient,  I  shall  be  pleased  to  hear  from  you 
again.  Wife  (once  Mattie  Bivins)  and  I  heartily  join 
in  very  kind  regards  and  best  wishes  to  you. 

"Sincerely  your  old  friend  and  fellow  schoolmate, 

"W.  C.  McCanon." 

Dr.  D.  Bobb,  writer  of  the  following  letter,  is  now 
seventy-three  years  old,  but  active  and  capable  as  a  man 
of  forty.  He  is  clean  in  life,  sweet  in  spirit,  and  con- 
cerned only  for  the  quality  of  his  services,  not  for 
material  rewards.  He  is  a  fine  type  of  the  devoted  vil- 
lage physician  whose  presence  in  a  community  is  a  bene- 
diction and  whose  place  can  never  be  supplied  when  he 
is  gone. 

"Dakota,  III.,  April  22,  1908. 
"E.  B.  Sopcr,  Esq.,  Emmetsburg,  Iowa. 

"My  Dear  Old  Friend  and  Brother:  Yours  of  recent 
date,  enclosing  copy  of  Western  College  program  fifty 
years  ago  and  copies  of  letters  from  our  mutual  old 
friends,  McCanon  and  Smith,  received,  for  which  accept 
my  sincere  thanks.  Brother  Smith  sent  the  program  to 
me  to  look  at  a  number  of  years  ago  with  the  request 
to  return  it  to  him  again.  I  had  forgotten  all  about  the 
matter  until  I  saw  the  copy  you  sent  me.     I  was  not  so 

92 


Our  Founders 

forethoughtful  as  you  were,  or  I  should  also  have  made 
copies  of  the  same.  The  program  you  sent  me  has  un- 
covered quite  a  few  names  of  Western  students  who  had 
been  covered  up  and  almost  forgotten  by  the  cares  and 
responsibilities  of  fifty  years  of  time.  The  memory  of 
the  departed  ones  brings  sadness  to  the  heart,  but  the 
success  of  the  living,  with  the  memory  of  our  association 
a  half  century  ago,  brings  many  pleasant  reminiscences. 
It  may  seem  rather  strange  that  all  the  Western  boys  with 
whom  I  have  come  in  contact — without  exception — seem 
vigorous  and  young. 

"I  was  very  glad  to  hear  of  your  financial  success,  and 
above  all  that  you  were  a  Christian  gentleman — the  high- 
est type  of  manhood.  I  should  enjoy  seeing  you  and 
talking  over  old  times.  It  would  be  very  pleasant  if  we 
could  have  a  reunion,  were  we  not  scattered  so  far  from 
each  other. 

"Shall  always  be  pleased  to  hear  from  you  when  con- 
venient. Thanking  you  again  for  the  copy  of  the  pro- 
gram and  the  letters,  believe  me  to  be  your  sincere  friend 
and  brother,  "D.  B.  Bobb." 

These  reminders  of  the  long  ago  must  close  with  a 
letter  from  the  Honorable  Henry  Lamm,  member  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  State  of  Missouri.  It  was  written 
in  generous  response  to  a  request  for  data  and  reminis- 
cences and  is  dated  from  the  office  of  the  Supreme  Court, 
State  of  Missouri,  January  3,  1910. 

"My  Dear  Mr.  Ward  :  Your  last  letter  of  inquiry  is 
at  hand.  I  think  I  wrote  you  about  all  the  information 
I  had.  I  looked  over  my  brother's  letters  and  tried  to 
find  my  old  school  boy  memoranda,  but  failed,  and  mem- 

»-..  -.--    .  93 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

ory  plays  fantastic  tricks  with  all  of  us  and  can  hardly 
be  trusted  on  names  and  dates  in  a  period  so  distant. 

"I  came  to  Western  College  in  1863  and  left  there  in 
the  spring  of  1865.  My  brother  John  was  then  attending 
school  and  I  joined  him  when  I  was  about  sixteen  years 
old.  I  think  I  remember  Soper,  but  am  not  sure  whether 
what  I  know  about  him  was  personal  or  from  hearsay 
from  John,  who  was  a  crony  of  his.  Professor  Jackson 
was  the  best  scholar  in  the  school  and  graduated  while 
I  was  there.  He  was  older  than  I,  and  should,  by  this 
time,  have  reached  that  delightful  reminiscent  age  when 
the  memory  seems  brightened  for  old  times  and  old 
timers. 

"If  you  can  get  all  he  knows  of  Western  College  you 
should  have  the  story  in  detail.  Shuey  was  a  big  man 
to  me.  The  Shuey s  lived  a  short  distance  out  of  the 
village  on  a  big  farm  with  a  brick  house,  if  I  mistake  not, 
and  were  leading  people  in  the  affairs  of  the  College.  If 
Oliver  Hazard  Perry  Grove  is  alive  he  must  be  an  ency- 
clopedia of  knowledge,  for  he  ran  the  college  paper  and 
had  a  knack  of  picking  up  fugitive  facts  and  making  his- 
tory of  them.  It  seems  to  me  the  president's  name  was 
Davis.  He  was  a  solemn  man  and  a  good  man,  but  he 
used  a  learned  terminology — sesquipedalian  words  which 
I  did  not  understand  and  doubt  much  whether  I  would 
apprehend  the  meaning  of  now ;  but  he  was  sound  in  doc- 
trine without  a  doubt.  Solomon  Weaver  was  president  and 
lived  at  Western  when  I  was  there,  but  I  am  inclined  to 
think  he  had  given  way  to  Davis  at  the  time.  If  you 
could  get  track  of  the  Neidigs  or  the  Perrys  they  would 
know  nearly  everything  about  the  old  times,  and  Mr. 
Ebersole.  should  be  able  to  put  one  on  the  trail  of  some 
of  them  unless  they  are  dead.      Some  of  the  faces  in  my 

94 


Our  Founders 

mind  have  no  names.  I  remember  a  grizzled  old  bachelor 
from  Galesburg,  Illinois,  with  a  German  name.  I  think 
it  was  Heisey,  or  something  like  that.  I  remember  some 
of  the  young  ladies,  but  the  "grasses  on  their  graves  have 
forty  years  been  growing,"  and,  for  an  old  lawyer,  the 
recollection  of  those  girls  is  fit  only  for  his  dreams  by 
the  grate  of  a  winter's  night  and  not  to  spread  on  paper. 

"I  wish  you  had  stirred  the  matter  up  before  my  brother 
died.  He  was  crippled  with  rheumatism,  gave  up  busi- 
ness affairs,  and  for  several  years  the  delight  of  his  life 
was  to  recall  old  scenes  and  past  events.  I  remember  now 
an  entertainment  in  which,  after  the  style  of  that  day, 
there  was  a  debate  in  regard  to  the  boy  up  the  apple  tree 
and  whether  the  farmer  treated  him  right  when  he  found 
him  taking  his  apples.  I  think  the  event  was  preserved 
in  that  great  history,  'Webster's  Elementary  Spelling 
Book.'  Your  humble  servant  defended  the  boy,  and  on 
that  occasion  I  won  my  first  round  of  popular  applause. 
There  comes  to  me  now  another  event  in  which  the  great 
drama  of  Box  and  Cox  was  represented.  Miss  Emma 
Grove  was  Mrs.  Bouncer  and  I  was  either  Box  or  Cox, 
and  for  the  life  of  me  I  can't  remember  which.  Whether 
the  discipline  of  the  United  Brethren  Church  permitted 
theatrical  entertainments  at  the  time  escapes  me,  but  they 
allowed  us  to  play  Box  and  Cox,  and  the  brethren  laughed 
over  the  troubles  of  B.  and  C.  with  the  rashers  of  bacon 
and  mutton  chops. 

"Doubtless  I  could  go  on  with  the  small  beer  of  gossip 
of  this  sort  page  after  page,  but  it  is  not  plain  to  me  how 
you  could  get  any  wheat  out  of  such  chaff  for  preserva- 
tion in  the  granary  of  your  grave  history  of  the  College 
dear  to  us  both  which  you  are  so  carefully  compiling. 


95 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

"You  ask  about  myself.  Well,  I  came  to  Western 
from  Burbank,  Ohio,  and,  in  doing  so,  I  made  my  first 
long  railway  journey  and  saw  many  wild  ducks  and 
geese  on  the  marshy  prairies  west  of  the  Mississippi. 
When  I  reached  Western  it  was  the  muddiest  town  I  ever 
saw.  The  mail  was  carried  from  Cedar  Rapids  in  a 
hack  and  the  horses  were  stalled  several  times.  The 
chief  newspaper  taken  in  the  town  was  the  Chicago 
Evening  Journal;  one  day  this  hack  came  in  draped 
in  mourning,  and  the  awful  whisper  ran  around  that 
Abraham  Lincoln  had  been  shot  and  killed  by  an  assassin. 
I  have  seen  and  taken  part  in  many  events,  but  that  was 
the  most  sorrowful  time  I  ever  saw.  I  don't  know 
that  I  had  ever  seen  men  and  women  crying  on  the  street 
before,  nor  did  I  ever  see  such  savage  feeling  against 
those  who  had  opposed  the  man  or  his  measures  as  I  saw 
directed  against  those  who  had  criticised  Mr.  Lincoln. 
This  only  lasted  for  a  few  days,  however. 

"I  left  Western  for  Michigan  University  in  1865,  and 
have  never  been  in  the  town  since.  Whether  it  is  on  the 
map  now  or  not,  you  know,  I  don't.  I  entered  the  fresh- 
man class  at  M.  U.  in  the  fall  of  1865,  and  graduated 
with  the  class  of  '69  with  the  degree  of  B.  S.  If  I  have 
received  any  degrees  since  then  I  know  nothing  of  them, 
although  I  am  somewhat  familiar  with  degrees ;  for  in- 
stance, degrees  of  courage  and  patience  and  perseverance. 
My  brother  John  went  with  me,  and  at  the  time  entered 
the  law  department.  He  spent  a  year  in  Ann  Arbor, 
came  to  Missouri  to  practice  law,  but  changed  his  mind 
and  became  a  farmer.  With  my  sheepskin  in  my  pocket 
and  parting  songs  sung,  I  came  to  Sedalia,  Missouri,  in 
1869.  I  taught  school,  studied  law  in  the  old-fashioned 
way,  by  going  into  an  office,  building  the  fires,  sweeping 

96 


REV.  M.  S.  DRURY 
General  Financial  Agent  for  many  years  and  a  most  generous  Donor. 


REV.  W.  M.  BEARDSHEAR,  D.D. 
President  of  Western  College  through  the  Epoch  Making  Period  of  1881  to  1889. 


Our  Founders 

out  and  reading  Blackstone,  Kent,  and  the  other 
fathers  of  the  law  under  the  supervision  of  active  prac- 
titioners. Presently  I  became  clerk  of  the  circuit  court, 
and  in  1874  began  practicing  law  in  the  firm  of  Sangree 
and  Lamm.  That  partnership  lasted  thirty  years.  Dur- 
ing that  time  I  was  prosecuting  attorney  for  four  years 
and  city  attorney  for  a  term.  Finally,  in  1904,  I  was 
elected  to  this  bench  and  entered  the  office  the  first  of 
January,  1905. 

"I  think  the  foregoing  answers  your  questions.  I 
would  like  to  attend  your  reunion  to  see  if  I  could  see 
an  old  face,  but  it  comes  at  a  period  when  my  time  is  mort- 
gaged to  my  judicial  duties.      With  kind  regards,  I  am, 

"Yours  sincerely, 
"January  3,  1910.  "Henry  Lamm." 


97 


Chapter  V. 

EARLY  FINANCES.      AGENTS.      FINANCIAL  DIFFICULTIES. 

In  the  last  analysis  the  college  problem  resolves  itself 
into  a  question  of  finance.  Consecrated  lives,  lofty 
ideals,  and  riches  of  mind  stuff  are  all  vital,  but  these 
rest  back  for  permanency  upon  a  foundation  of  material 
resources.  A  college  is  a  vast  complicated  business 
enterprise  that  cannot  long  be  operated  successfully  with- 
out sound  business,  carried  out  by  men  endowed  with 
business  genius  of  the  highest  order.  The  founders  of 
Western  College  had  some  sense  of  the  business  they 
were  undertaking,  but  would  have  been  appalled  if  they 
had  guessed  the  whole  truth.  They  were  excellent  men 
of  superior  talents  in  many  ways,  and  some  of  them  men 
of  large  practical  sagacity,  but  with  inadequate  experience 
in  the  business  of  a  college.  It  is  amazing  under  the 
circumstances  that  they  succeeded  so  well  as  they  did. 

The  plan  adopted  from  the  very  first  for  the  securing 
of  funds  was  the  employment  of  soliciting  agents,  who 
were  usually  assigned  to  different  districts,  and  often 
were  instructed  to  raise  money  for  a  specific  purpose. 
Before  the  location  of  the  College  had  been  determined 
upon,  the  Shueyville  community,  in  its  eagerness  to  secure 
the  College,  sent  out  a  number  of  volunteer  solicitors. 
Rev.  Solomon  Weaver  took  the  lead  in  this,  and  he  was 
ably  assisted  by  the  Shueys,  Jacob,  W.  H.,  and  J.  A.,  and 
by  Adam  Perry,  John  W.  Henderson,  and  others.  They 
secured    donations    in    land    and   money,    amounting   to 

98 


Early  Finances 

$6,000,  which  donation  became  available  as  soon  as  the 
College  was  located  at  Western. 

The  first  official  solicitor  was  Rev.  George  Miller, 
appointed  by  the  Iowa  Conference  in  1855,  at  the  same 
time  the  first  Board  of  Trustees  was  appointed.  He,  how- 
ever, on  account  of  ill  health,  failed  to  take  up  the  work, 
and  the  board,  at  its  session  at  Lisbon,  November  12, 
1855,  appointed  Rev.  M.  G.  Miller,  who  apparently 
served  until  the  next  session  of  the  conference;  at  that 
time  Rev.  Joseph  Wickard  was  elected,  and  continued  as 
traveling  agent  for  several  years.  When,  in  the  summer 
of  1856,  Des  Moines  Conference  decided  to  cooperate 
with  Western  College,  Rev.  R.  Logan  was  elected  travel- 
ing agent  for  that  conference,  a  position  which  he  filled 
acceptably  two  or  three  years.  So  far  as  a  uniform 
policy  regarding  traveling  agents  prevailed  in  the  early 
years,  it  seems  to  have  been  that  each  cooperating  con- 
ference should  have  an  agent  either  elected  by  the  con- 
ference or  appointed  by  the  College,  which  agent  should 
report  quarterly  to  the  treasurer  of  the  College  and 
annually  to  the  Board  of  Trustees.  Sometimes  there 
were  more  agents,  sometimes  fewer,  a  number  of  sub- 
agents  being  appointed  when  an  especial  canvass  was 
contemplated. 

In  February,  1856,  the  Board  elected  Rev.  Solomon 
Weaver  resident  agent,  and  charged  him  with  numerous 
duties  connected  with  the  local  business  management — 
overseeing  the  erection  of  buildings,  purchasing  material, 
selling  college  lots,  hiring  teachers,  and  providing  for  the 
running  expenses  of  the  school  after  it  should  be  opened. 
After  he  became  president  most  of  these  duties  were  con- 
tinued, and  from  that  day  to  the  present  they  have  con- 
tinued to  adhere  in  some  measure  and  one  form  or  an- 

99 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

other  to  the  presidency.  Whatever  time  the  resident 
agent  could  spare  from  the  local  management  he  was 
expected  to  spend  as  a  soliciting  agent  away  from  home. 

Many  of  the  early  donations  were  gifts  of  land,  either 
deeded  to  the  College  outright,  or  given  for  a  small  con- 
sideration. These  gifts  furnished  revenue  through  sales 
at  advancing  prices,  and  offered  an  opportunity  for  build- 
ing a  permanent  source  of  income  if  the  College  had  only 
been  in  a  position  to  take  advantage  of  the  opportunity. 
Even  as  it  was,  considerable  income  was  derived  from 
this  source,  especially  from  the  sale  of  lots  in  the  town 
of  Western.  It  will  be  remembered  that  a  tract  of  land 
comprising  240  acres  was  presented  to  the  College  at 
first,  intended  for  the  site  of  the  College,  town,  and  farm. 
Seventeen  acres  in  the  center  of  the  tract  were  set  aside 
as  the  campus ;  surrounding  this  "College  square"  the 
town  of  Western  was  platted  and  the  lots  offered  for 
sale  at  from  twenty-five  to  fifty  dollars  each;  adjoining 
the  town  site,  lots  of  one  acre  were  offered  at  one  hundred 
dollars  each.  For  the  first  few  years,  while  the  enter- 
prise was  new  and  its  friends  eager,  the  sale  of  lots  was 
most  encouraging. 

That  a  few  of  the  founders  of  the  College  had  some 
glimmerings  of  the  possibilities  offered  by  cheap  govern- 
ment lands  is  indicated  by  an  editorial  in  the  first  number 
of  the  Western  College  Advocate,  issued  in  July,  1856. 
The  editorial  is  headed,  "How  to  Save  Money" : 

"It  is  admitted  on  all  hands  that  a  college  property 
worth  less  than  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  will  not 
meet  the  wants  of  our  people  in  the  west.  Twenty-five 
thousand  dollars  of  this  we  have  already  secured,  leav- 
ing a  balance  of  seventy-five  thousand  dollars  to  be  raised 
by  some  means.      The  question  then  is,  how  shall  we 

100 


Early  Finances 

proceed  in  order  to  secure  that  balance?  We  answer, 
let  twenty  of  our  friends  enter  160  acres  of  land  each; 
thirty  enter  80  acres  each;  forty  enter  40  acres  each; 
fifty  more,  every  two  united,  enter  40  acres  each;  sixty 
more,  every  four  united,  enter  40  acres;  seventy-two 
more,  every  eight  united,  enter  40  acres  each,  all  in  the 
name  of  Western  College.  Now  in  order  to  enter  the 
above  amount  of  land,  it  only  requires  eleven  thousand 
dollars,  and  we  are  very  sanguine  in  the  opinion  that  in 
less  than  six  years  we  should  be  able  to  report  to  the 
people  a  collge  worth  one  hundred  thousand  dollars.  We 
hope  our  people  will  think  of  this ;  two  men  have  already 
pledged  themselves  for  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  each. 
We  expect  to  call  attention  to  this  in  the  future." 

Government  land  at  that  time  could  be  purchased  for 
$1.25  an  acre;  so  the  dream  was  not  an  idle  one  that 
eleven  thousand  dollars  so  invested  might  in  six  years 
increase  to  seventy-five  thousand  dollars.  If  the  sug- 
gestion of  the  editor  had  been  carried  out,  and  the  Col- 
lege had  been  able  to  keep  the  land,  a  permanent  and 
ever-increasing  income  would  thus  have  been  provided, 
and  the  College  would  now  be  in  possession  of  an  endow- 
ment of  more  than  a  million  dollars  from  that  source 
alone,  to  say  nothing  of  the  other  great  opportunities 
such  a  substantial  backing  would  have  brought.  If  the 
College  could  have  held  the  greater  part  of  the  lands  that 
actually  came  into  its  possession  it  might  now  be  upon 
solid  financial  foundation.  Within  ten  or  fifteen  years 
of  its  founding  the  College  either  held  or  had  held  title 
to  several  thousand  acres  of  good  Iowa  and  Illinois  land 
worth  to-day  one  hundred  to  two  hundred  dollars  an  acre. 
Perhaps  it  was  inevitable  under  the  circumstances  that 
these  lands  had  to  be  sacrificed  to  present  necessities — 

101 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

they  were,  in  fact,  given  in  each  instance  to  meet  a  present 
emergency,  such  as  the  erection  of  a  building  or  the 
paying  of  a  pressing  obligation  already  incurred. 

Another  unfortunate  step  in  the  early  finances  of  the 
College,  but  likewise  due  to  the  exigencies  of  the  under- 
taking, was  the  policy  of  borrowing  money  to  meet  the 
present  needs.  At  the  third  meeting  of  the  Board,  held 
in  the  Sugar  Creek  schoolhouse,  December  24,  1855,  that 
meeting  at  which  the  location  of  the  College  was  deter- 
mined, a  resolution  was  passed  providing  "That  Brother 
Shuey  be  engaged  to  go  back  east  to  borrow  $10,000  at  a 
reasonable  rate  of  interest  for  a  term  of  at  least  three 
years  for  the  use  of  Western  College."  This  step  was 
taken  because  cash  was  needed  to  erect  and  equip  a 
college  building.  New  enterprises  often  mortgage  the 
future  by  borrowing  money  for  first  equipment,  and  in 
the  end  gain  by  the  added  efficiency  thus  gained;  when 
the  enterprise  is  wholly  benevolent,  however,  and  must 
depend  entirely  upon  future  gifts  for  meeting  all  its 
obligations,  the  policy  of  borrowing  money  is  a  dangerous 
one  to  adopt.  In  this  particular  case,  the  obligation  thus 
assumed  remained  for  years  a  serious  embarrassment  to 
the  College  and  a  heavy  burden  to  Father  Shuey,  who  had 
borrowed  the  money  on  his  own  good  name  and  had  be- 
come responsible  for  its  payment. 

In  the  records  of  another  meeting  of  the  Board,  held  in 
the  new  town  of  Western,  October  9,  1856,  are  found 
two  rather  quaintly  worded  resolutions : 

"That  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Des  Moines  Conference 
be  requested  to  borrow  instanter  one  thousand  dollars 
for  the  use  of  Western  College." 

"That  the  Board  of  Iowa  Conference  be  required  to 
borrow  one  thousand  dollars  for  the  use  of  Western." 

102 


Early  Finances 

These  amounts,  presumably,  the  conferences  were  ex- 
pected to  assume  and  then  proceed  to  raise  among  the 
membership,  a  policy  not  so  bad  in  itself,  as  the  sense  of 
obligation  would  stimulate  to  effort,  but  the  College  was 
acquiring  the  habit  of  borrowing  as  a  quick  way  to  secure 
ready  cash. 

At  the  first  annual  meeting  of  the  Board,  in  June,  1857, 
the  question  of  borrowing  money  was  again  pressing  for 
answer,  and  the  resident  agent  suggested,  as  the  matter 
was  of  such  grave  importance,  "It  be  made  the  subject  of 
deliberation  and  prayer  until  to-morrow  morning."  In 
the  morning  the  Board  ordered  that  the  agents  proceed 
immediately  to  procure  a  loan  at  a  rate  not  to  exceed 
fifteen  per  cent,  per  annum.  George  Miller,  M.  G. 
Miller,  and  J.  Neidig  were  made  a  committee  to  corres- 
pond with  a  view  of  effecting  the  loan  in  the  east.  A 
year  later  the  Board  instructed  the  resident  agent  to  secure 
a  loan  in  order  to  pay  off  the  debts  of  the  institution  and 
to  make  improvements.  So  on  and  on,  and  meanwhile 
occasions  for  borrowing  multiplied  and  the  habit  became 
chronic.  The  good  men  in  charge  of  the  school  did  the 
best  they  could  under  the  circumstances  and  resorted  to 
borrowing  only  when  they  felt  themselves  forced  to  it, 
and  then  only  to  "tide  over"  the  present  emergency.  In 
this  Western  was  but  repeating  the  history  of  practically 
all  denominational  schools,  yet  the  endless  struggle  for 
release  and  the  ever-renewed  hope  that  Providence  would 
somehow  open  the  way  to  meet  the  new  obligation  make 
a  story  of  no  less  pathos  merely  because  it  tells  a  common 
experience.  Not  until  very  recent  years  did  the  College 
escape  entirely  from  the  policy. 

In  some  respects  the  time  of  launching  Western  College 
was  not  the  most  happy  in  a  business  sense.      Plans  were 

103 


Western — Lcander-CIark  College 

laid,  obligations  assumed,  and  building  enterprises 
begun  in  the  latter  part  of  1855  and  during  1856,  years 
of  general  prosperity  and  of  great  promise  for  Iowa  be- 
cause of  the  westward  movement  of  immigration  at  that 
time.  Then  came  the  panic  of  1857  and  the  consequent 
embarrassment  of  all  who  assumed  large  obligations  when 
times  seemed  flourishing.  The  Western  College  enter- 
prise, however,  had  started  with  so  much  earnestness  and 
energy  and  had  acquired  so  much  momentum  that  it  seems 
to  have  felt  the  general  depression  less  even  than  did  most 
purely  business  concerns.  The  Western  College  Advo- 
cate, for  November,  1857,  speaks  hopefully,  almost  tri- 
umphantly; yet  one  can  read  between  the  lines  a  touch 
of  concern : 

"The  unsettled  state  of  financial  matters  has  made  sad 
work  with  many  laudable  public  and  private  enterprises. 
Whilst  every  department  of  business  is  more  or  less 
affected  by  the  present  monetary  derangement,  we  feel 
thankful  to  the  Great  Giver  of  all  good  gifts  for  the 
unparalleled  prosperity  that  has  smiled  so  propitiously 
upon  our  young  institution.  While  the  uncounted  wealth 
of  corporations  and  individuals  has  been  destroyed  by  the 
great  financial  storm  of  1857,  our  College,  commenced 
here  with  so  much  energy  and  zeal,  still  moves  safely, 
acquiring  every  day  an  influence  that  will  tell  favorably 
for  the  interests  of  the  Church  in  aiding  her  to  advance 
more  effectually  the  cause  of  the  gospel,  as  well  as  assist 
in  the  great  cause  of  education  in  the  northwest — a  cause 
which  is  enlisting  the  energies,  time,  and  talents  of  some 
of  our  best  men. 

"It  is  not  our  purpose  to  write  a  mere  puff,  and  we  are 
glad  too  that  it  is  not  our  lot,  as  the  organ  of  the  College, 
to  bolster  up  a  sinking  concern.      Our  sphere  for  opera- 

104 


Early  Finances 

tion  is  widening.  Western  College  is  now  backed  by  the 
influence  of  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  Rock  River,  Illinois,  and 
Minnesota  conferences — five  in  number — of  the  United 
Brethren  Church.  These  conferences  cover  a  territory 
possessing  a  soil  as  rich  as  the  sun  ever  shone  on,  and 
with  their  educational  interests  centered  in  one  institution, 
we  cannot  fail,  with  proper  management,  to  build  up  a 
college  that  will  be  an  honor  to  the  Church  and  promote 
the  cause  of  education. 

"The  most  sanguine  expectations  of  the  few  friends, 
who  were  instrumental  in  setting  the  College  on  foot,  have 
been  more  than  realized.  Our  agents  are  meeting  with 
good  success,  and  we  are  glad  that  such  a  universal  inter- 
est has  sprung  up  in  regard  to  the  College.  Many 
prayers  have  been  offered  for  its  success,  and  we  believe, 
with  God's  aid,  it  will  accomplish  the  end  for  which  it 
was  founded." 

Some  idea  of  how  successful  the  College  had  been  in 
acquiring  a'  substantial  footing  in  those  days  of  small 
beginnings  may  be  gathered  from  the  official  statement  of 
possessions,  resources,  and  liabilities  issued  in  January, 
1858,  just  one  year  after  the  opening  of  the  school.  The 
list  is  as  follows : 

College  square,  17  acres $    1,700.00 

Primary  Building 10,000.00 

15  lots,  one  acre  each 1,125.00 

College  Farm,  160  acres 3,200.00 

130  lots,  40  acres 5,200.00 

College  timber,  120  acres 1,440.00 

Land  in  Cedar  County,  160  acres 1,600.00 

Land  in  Linn  County,  60  acres 600.00 

Town  lots  in  Lisbon 200.00 

Town  lots  in  different  places 200.00 

105 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

Limestone  quarry  and  20  acres  land 300.00 

College  team 225 .00 

Notes  and  subscriptions 16,000.00 

Total $41,790.00 

Liabilities 6,850.00 

Balance  in  favor  of  College $34,940.00 

Taking  into  account  that  the  estimates  of  real  estate, 
though  evidently   conservative,   are  only   estimates,   and 
making  due  allowances  for  shrinkage  in  notes  and  sub- 
scriptions the  showing  is  still  a  good  one  for  that  day. 
A  report  made  to  the  Board  in  June,  1862,  shows: 

Permanent  College  Property. 

College  square  and  buildings $  25,000.00 

Limekiln  and  74  acres  of  land 800.00 

Farm  and  timber 5,000.00 

Teams 400.00 

Farm  implements  500.00 

Printing  office 1,000.00 

Library   400.00 

Total $33,100.00 

Assets  Available  for  Paying  Debts. 

Notes  in  treasury $  11,200.00 

Land 4,000.00 

Town  lots  in  Western 2,000.00 

Acre  lots  in  Western 1,000.00 

Nursery 1,200.00 

Lots  in  other  towns 400.00 

Total $19,900.00 

College  liabilities    12,500.00 

Net  assets $   7,400.00 

106 


Early  Finances 

This  was  probably  not  excelled  during  all  the  years  the 
College  remained  at  Western.  Some  additions  were 
made  to  buildings  and  equipment,  and  there  was  a  natural 
increase  in  the  value  of  real  estate,  yet  when  trying  times 
came  and  it  was  found  expedient  to  change  the  location 
of  the  College,  a  considerable  portion  of  this  "permanent 
property"  had  already  gone  to  pay  debts  and  the  re- 
mainder sold  for  but  a  fraction  of  the  appraisement  given 
in  this  schedule.  Besides,  the  notes  and  subscriptions  in 
the  treasury  depreciated  more  and  more  as  the  years 
went  by,  while  the  liabilities  not  only  failed  to  depreciate, 
but  increased  periodically  by  accumulations  of  interest 
and  running  expenses,  insomuch  that  by  the  time  the 
decision  for  removal  was  reached  the  material  possessions 
of  the  College  could  be  represented  by  a  minus  quantity. 

Up  to  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War  the  success  of  the 
young  institution  was  most  gratifying  to  its  friends  and 
full  of  promise  for  the  future.  It  had  financial  difficulties 
and  perhaps  made  some  financial  mistakes,  but  these  were 
necessary  incidents  in  a  new  enterprise  under  untried  con- 
ditions. With  the  absorption  of  thought  and  interest  in 
the  approaching  crisis  and  the  depressing  effect  of  actual 
war,  the  College  suffered  most  severely  both  in  attendance 
and  in  financial  support.  These  were  the  times  that  tried 
men's  souls  not  only  in  civil  strife  that  threatened  the  life 
of  the  nation,  but  also  in  concern  for  the  domestic  insti- 
tutions that  were  designed  to  shed  benediction  upon  home 
and  community. 

The  College  authorities  strove  manfully  to  meet  the 
crisis  in  the  life  of  the  school.  The  regular  soliciting 
agents,  Joseph  Manning  and  A.  A.  Sellers,  later  J.  Good- 
win and  J.  Y.  Jones,  did  heroic  work  in  trying  to  secure 
funds,  and  when  the  situation  grew  more  desperate,  tem- 

107 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

porary  agents  were  sent  out  to  canvass  smaller  districts. 
At  one  time  a  number  of  collecting  agents  were  sent  out  to 
collect  old  notes  and  subscriptions,  with  large  discretion 
in  making  discounts  as  an  inducement  for  present  settle- 
ment. Lands  and  other  salable  property  of  the  College 
were  sold  and  the  proceeds  applied  to  paying  urgent 
claims.  In  1863  the  Board  borrowed  one  thousand  dollars 
to  pay  pressing  debts.  Finally  the  College  farm,  instead 
of  reporting  a  good  yearly  profit  as  before,  began  to 
report  a  deficit.  It  was  abandoned  as  a  College  enterprise, 
rented,  and  later  sold  at  a  small  price.  Good  Iowa 
land  was  sacrificed  for  as  low  as  five  and  six  dollars  an 
acre.  The  limekiln  and  adjoining  land  had  already  gone. 
Loans  were  pressing  for  payment,  and  the  College,  unable 
to  pay,  had  to  plead  for  an  extension  of  time.  Teachers, 
no  longer  receiving  their  salaries  even  in  trade  and  farm 
products,  but  paid  in  College  notes,  part  of  which  they 
found  it  expedient  afterwards  to  donate,  resigned  after 
short  terms  of  service,  except  Professor  Bartlett,  who 
remained  loyally  from  1857  to  1867. 

The  prospects  of  the  College  reached  low-water  mark 
about  1867,  the  time  when  even  Professor  Bartlett  lost 
hope  and  quit.  This  may  be  regarded  as  one  of  the 
three  crisal  moments  the  College  has  been  called  on  to 
pass  through,  moments  when  life  and  death  hung  in  the 
balance.  That  the  College  survived,  and  in  each  case 
went  on  to  larger  and  stronger  life,  argues  the  tenacious 
vitality  of  institutions  founded  on  such  principles  as  was 
this.  The  year  1868  marked  the  turning  of  the  tide  for 
the  better.  This  transition  period  has  been  sufficiently 
discussed  in  connection  with  the  name  of  Professor  E.  C. 
Ebersole,  who  happened  to  be  the  available  man  for  this 
hour  of  need.    Before  tracing  the  struggles  and  successes 

108 


Early  Finances 

of  the  next  period,  it  seems  desirable  to  devote  a  chapter 
to  the  loyal  patriotism  of  the  College  as  displayed  during 
the  Civil  War. 


109 


Chapter  VI. 

THE  PATRIOTISM  OF  WESTERN.  FIRST  ENLIST- 
MENT. IN  WAR  TIMES.  WHEN  THE  WAR  WAS 
OVER.        WESTERN'S   ROLL  OF    HONOR. 

It  was  but  natural  that  colleges  of  both  north  and  south 
should  be  hotbeds  of  zeal  for  their  respective  sections. 
Colleges  are  built  on  ideals,  among  them  lofty  ideals  of 
patriotism  and  service.  Youth,  even  when  isolated,  is 
spontaneously  enthusiastic  and  quick  to  respond  to  ap- 
peals for  sacrifices  and  serious  risks  in  behalf  of  a  noble 
cause ;  youth  in  mass  and  under  the  unifying  influence  of 
an  earnest  college  atmosphere  responds  with  irresistible 
enthusiasm  to  what  it  believes  to  be  the  challenge  of  a 
conflict  between  honor  and  dishonor. 

The  people  who  had  gathered  about  the  College  of 
Western  were,  like  the  Pilgrim  Fathers,  ardently  devoted 
to  liberty  under  a  rule  of  righteousness.  Like  the  Pil- 
grims, too,  they  had  come  to  this  western  land  for  its 
larger  opportunities  and  its  promises  of  larger  freedom. 
They  had  come  from  New  England,  from  Virginia,  and 
all  the  region  between  these  and  the  Mississippi,  yet  all 
alike  were  anti-slavery  in  sentiment  and  staunch  sup- 
porters of  the  Union.  Such  a  people  naturally  took  a 
warm  interest  in  the  agitations  that  preceded  the  war, 
and  their  young  men  were  ready  for  deeds  of  heroism. 
How  the  students  of  Western  responded  to  the  first  call 
to  arms  can  be  learned  from  the  following  extract  from 
a  paper,  "In  War  Time,"  read  at  the  quadrennial  pro- 
gram, at  Toledo,  Iowa,  June  8,  1910,  by  Captain  E.  B. 
Soper,  one  of  Western's  first  volunteers. 

110 


The  Patriotism  of  Western 

"Suddenly  the  tocsin  of  war  called  us  all  from  our 
sports  and  books  to  face  the  loaded  muskets  and  belching 
cannon. 

"The  atmosphere  of  Western,  both  town  and  College, 
as  might  have  been  expected  from  the  doctrine  of  the 
Church  and  influence  of  the  faculty  trained  at  Oberlin, 
was  decidedly  anti-slavery. 

"The  encroachments  of  the  slave  power  caused  the 
formation  of  the  Republican  Party  in  1856,  whose  first 
candidate  for  President,  John  C.  Fremont,  so  nearly 
defeated  the  Democratic  candidate,  James  Buchanan. 
The  struggle  to  make  Kansas  a  slave  State,  with  its  out- 
rages and  villainies,  aroused  the  public  conscience  in  the 
north,  and  made  possible  in  1860  the  election  of  Abraham 
Lincoln.  Slavery  saw  its  doom  in  that  the  people  decreed 
that  no  additional  slave  territory  should  be  permitted. 
Slave  State  after  slave  State  passed  ordinances  of  seces- 
sion, and  proclaimed  its  withdrawal  from  the  Union,  and 
not  yet  satisfied,  proceeded  to  make  war  on  the  United 
States  by  bombardment  of  Ft.  Sumpter  and  Charleston 
Harbor. 

"It  is  difficult,  if  not  impossible,  after  so  many  decades 
of  peace  and  harmony,  for  those  of  this  generation  to 
realize  the  conditions  following  the  firing  on  Ft.  Sumpter, 
April  12  and  13,  1861.  The  whole  country  went  wild 
with  excitement.  When,  on  April  15,  1861,  President 
Lincoln  issued  his  proclamation  calling  for  75,000  vol- 
unteers for  three  months,  the  tidal  wave  of  feeling  carried 
everything  before  it.  Every  city,  town,  and  hamlet  in  the 
land  became  at  once  a  recruiting  station.  The  fife  and 
drum  were  heard  everywhere  calling  the  nation  to  arms. 

"The  singing  of  the  'Star  Spangled  Banner'  and  'The 
Sword  of  Bunker  Hill'  struck  a  chord  that  brought  audi- 

111 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

ences  everywhere  to  their  feet,  followed  by  cheer  after 
cheer. 

"On  the  evening  of  the  sixteenth  of  April,  1861,  the 
ringing  of  the  College  bell  at  Western  brought  to  the 
College  chapel  an  excited  audience  of  faculty,  students, 
and  citizens.  Representatives  from  Cedar  Rapids  were 
present.  They  brought  intelligence  of  the  President's 
proclamation  and  that  Iowa  was  asked  to  furnish  one 
thousand  men ;  that  Governor  Kirkwood  had  announced 
that  a  company  from  Linn  County  would  be  accepted  if 
promptly  tendered;  that  a  company  was  in  process  of 
formation  at  Cedar  Rapids,  a  few  more  men  were  needed 
to  complete  the  requisite  number,  and  volunteers  were 
being  called  for. 

"After  speeches  by  President  Weaver  and  others,  an 
enlistment  roll  was  produced  and  signed  by  the  following 
students :  George  C.  Fuhrmeister,  Alfred  D.  Collier, 
Wm.  G.  Eckles,  Edwin  R.  McKee,  E.  B.  Soper,  Benj.  F. 
Whistler,  John  Van  Meter,  and  John  R.  Van  Arsdale. 

"We  knew  little  of  war  or  its  dangers.  We  had  vol- 
unteered to  go  to  war,  where  we  were  to  shoot  and  be 
shot  at.  Every  one  expected,  of  course,  we  would  all  be 
killed,  or  worse,  and  the  days  preceding  our  departure 
for  the  rendezvous  were  solemn  ones. 

"Our  preparations  completed,  we  were  ordered  to  join 
our  company.  A  solemn  gathering  and  formal  farewell 
were  had  in  the  College  chapel,  and  earnest  prayers  were 
offered  for  our  preservation.  In  a  farm  wagon,  with 
boards  across  the  top  of  the  box  for  seats,  eight  dejected 
patriots  started  for  Cedar  Rapids. 

"Of  the  eight  men  who,  that  April,  forty-nine  years  ago, 
rode  in  a  lumber  wagon  the  eight  miles  from  Western 
to  Cedar  Rapids,  only  four  are  living:     Collier,  McKee, 

112 


The  Patriotism  of  Western 

Whistler,  and  Soper.  Of  the  remaining  four,  three  died 
in  military  service,  viz. :  Eckles,  of  typhoid  fever  in 
Missouri,  taken  sick  on  the  return  march  after  the  battle ; 
Fuhrmeister,  then  captain  of  Company  C,  25th  Iowa 
Infantry,  fell  in  action  at  Yellow  Bayou,  La.,  May  18, 
1864;  and  Van  Meter,  then  captain  of  Company  A,  18th 
Iowa  Infantry,  fell  in  January,  1863,  defending  a  rebel 
assault  at  Springfield,  Mo. ;  and  Van  Arsdale  died  peace- 
fully at  his  home  after  the  war." 

So  much  for  the  first  enlistment  and  the  first  group  of 
student  volunteers. 

Other  enlistments  occurred  at  different  times  during 
the  war  until  the  whole  number  of  students  and  professors 
enlisted  reached  one  hundred  and  fourteen.  Such  was 
the  earnestness  and  patriotism  with  students  and  teachers 
responding  to  the  various  calls  for  volunteers  that  at  one 
time  it  is  said,  only  one  able-bodied  man  of  military  age 
was  left  in  the  entire  student  body,  and  he  refrained  from 
enlisting  only  because  he  was  at  that  time  a  county  com- 
missioner in  Johnson  County,  then  seat  of  the  State  capi- 
tol,  and  Governor  Kirkwood — the  famous  "War  Gover- 
nor"— urged  him  to  remain  in  order  to  maintain  a  Repub- 
lican majority  on  the  commission  and  thus  insure  support 
of  the  Governor's  war  measures.  School  interests  of  all 
kinds  necessarily  suffered  greatly,  and  at  times  it  seemed 
that  the  school  must  suspend  altogether. 

If  the  community  was  deeply  interested  in  the  war 
before  because  of  the  principles  involved,  interest  became 
painfully  intense  now  that  sons,  brothers,  lovers,  hus- 
bands, and  fathers  were  in  the  thick  of  the  strife.  Patri- 
otic meetings,  speeches,  and  songs  kept  the  community 
in  a  fever  of  loyal  enthusiasm.  Governor  Kirk- 
wood, grateful  for  this  stronghold  of  patriotism,  came 

113 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

several  times  to  the  College  chapel  to  address  the  citizens 
on  the  state  of  the  country.  The  Board  often  paused  in 
the  midst  of  its  harassing  perplexities  to  give  expression 
to  its  undying  patriotism.  In  the  minutes  of  June  24, 
1862,  are  recorded  the  following  resolutions,  action  on 
which  were  taken  at  an  appointed  hour  in  the  afternoon 
after  a  number  of  stirring  speeches  and  before  a  large 
gathering  of  students  and  citizens. 

"Resolved,  That  although  with  sorrow  for  the  necessity 
which  has  called  them  forth,  it  is  with  a  feeling  of  satis- 
faction and  pride  that  we  have  seen  the  students  of  our 
College  so  nobly  testify  upon  the  battle  field  their  devotion 
to  their  country  and  the  cause  of  freedom,  and  our  heart- 
felt sympathy  is  extended  to  them  in  their  trials  and  to 
the  friends  and  relatives  of  those  who  have  fallen  in  their 
affliction  and  bereavement." 

"Whereas,  Our  country  is  involved  in  a  bloody  war 
waged  against  freedom  and  equal  rights  and  for  the  per- 
petuity of  human  bondage,  therefore, 

"Resolved,  That  we,  the  trustees  of  Western  College, 
sympathize  with  the  Government  in  its  efforts  to  crush 
out  this  unholy  rebellion  and  will  ever  aid  by  our  prayers, 
our  money,  and,  if  need  be,  by  physical  force,  to  the  end 
that  the  cause  may  finally  be  removed  and  peace  restored 
in  all  our  borders." 

"Resolved,  That  we  join  heartily  with  the  faculty  and 
students  of  Western  College  in  sympathizing  with  the 
students  who  have  left  their  studies  for  the  more  arduous 
labors  of  the  camp  life,  and  will  ever  pray  for  their  suc- 
cess and  safe  return  to  the  bosom  of  their  friends." 

Again,  in  July,  1863,  just  after  the  battle  of  Gettysburg, 
the  following  appears  on  record : 

114 


The  Patriotism  of  Western 

"Resolved,  That  our  hearts  respond  with  gratitude  to 
God  for  the  pleasing  intelligence  which  greets  our  ears  to 
the  effect  that  the  Union  forces  are  gaining  very  signal 
and  decisive  victories  over  the  rebel  marauders  in  Penn- 
sylvania ;  and  we  pray  God  that  continued  victories  may 
perch  upon  the  Union  banners  until  the  last  rebel  shall  be 
captured,  and  the  old  flag  float  in  triumph  over  the  entire 
land." 

The  most  poignant  interest  after  all  was  personal. 
This  is  the  way  a  girl  who  lived  through  it  all  remembers 
it :  "Being  away  from  the  railroad  the  war  news  did  not 
reach  us  until  the  hack  brought  the  mail  about  four 
o'clock  every  day.  Then  men  would  be  seen  wending 
their  way  from  all  over  town  to  hear  the  latest  from  the 
seat  of  war.  Dr.  W.  B.  Wagner  would  read  aloud  from 
the  Cedar  Rapids  dailies  or  from  the  Chicago  Tribune,  and 
every  one  went  home  to  spread  the  war  news  broadcast. 
Many  a  poor  mother  whose  heart  yearned  for  news  from 
her  boy,  haunted  the  post  office  day  after  day  to  learn 
how  it  went  with  him."  After  a  battle,  newspaper  lists 
of  the  dead  and  wounded  were  scanned  with  painful 
interest  to  see  whether  the  names  of  friends  could  be 
found  there ;  often  the  heart  of  the  searcher  stopped  at 
the  sudden  appearance  of  a  familiar  name  in  such  lists 
or  among  the  hospital  deaths.  The  home  of  President 
Weaver  was  thus  made  desolate  because  a  stalwart  soldier 
boy  would  never  return.  The  homes  of  Adam  Perry, 
J.  Berger,  and  many  others  passed  under  the  same 
shadow. 

Special  mention  should  be  made  of  the  "Students' 
Company,"  being  Company  D,  in  the  44th  Iowa.  The 
company  was  made  up  of  students  from  Western,  Cornell, 
and  the  State  University  of  Iowa.     That  such  a  company 

115 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

should  be  formed  is  in  itself  a  testimony  to  the  ardor  of 
student  patriotism. 

As  the  war  dragged  out  its  dreadful  length  and  the 
heart  of  the  nation  grew  sick  with  longing  for  the  deso- 
lation to  cease,  the  people  at  home  gave  more  and  more 
of  their  solicitude  and  of  their  means  to  relieve  war's 
cursed  aftermath — the  pain  of  wounds,  the  distress  of 
crippled  bodies,  the  ravages  of  disease,  and  the  destitution 
of  widows  and  orphans.  Citizens  of  Western  responded 
again  and  again  to  the  calls  of  the  Sanitary  Commission 
for  medicines,  lint,  bandages,  and  jellies  for  the  sick  and 
wounded,  and  often  collected  and  sent  forward  clothing, 
blankets,  Bibles,  and  other  good  literature  to  the  boys 
both  in  the  hospitals  and  in  the  field.  Contributions  for 
these  purposes  were  always  in  order;  occasionally  money 
was  raised  by  entertainments.  One  such  was  a  mush 
and  milk  social ;  the  mush  was  made  at  the  home  of 
Doctor  Wagner,  the  milk  was  donated  by  other  citizens, 
and  the  people  gladly  paid  twenty-five  cents  each  to  help 
swell  the  funds  of  the  Commission.  Once  only  was  the 
generosity  of  the  good  people  imposed  upon.  The  inci- 
dent is  told  by  Mrs.  S.  J.  Staves.  "A  rebel  spy,  or  rather 
impostor,  came  to  town  one  day,  claiming  to  be  a  Union 
man  from  Mobile,  Alabama,  who  had  been  forced  to  leave 
home  because  of  his  Union  sentiments.  He  was  raising 
money  to  assist  others  situated  as  he  had  been,  and  to 
get  his  wife  and  family  away  from  there  to  a  place  of 
safety.  He  was  a  glib  talker  and  a  fiery  patriot,  and  at 
last,  calling  loudly  on  all  to  sing  'Rally  Round  the  Flag, 
Boys,'  he  led  the  singing  wildly  gesticulating,  and  when 
the  people  were  wrought  up  to  a  frenzy  of  patriotism  he 
called  for  a  collection.  Fifty  dollars  was  the  amount  con- 
tributed, if  my  memory  serves  me  rightly.    He  was  appre- 

116 


The  Patriotism  of  Western 

hended  at  Clinton  just  before  getting  out  of  the  State, 
and  rather  than  be  taken,  shot  himself,  so  the  newspapers 
said." 

Finally  the  cheering  news  came  that  Lee  had  sur- 
rendered and  that  the  awful  struggle  was  near  its  end. 
Naturally  there  was  great  rejoicing  and  devout  thanks- 
giving among  a  people  who  had  given  so  freely  and  suf- 
fered so  severely  as  had  the  people  at  Western.  Then 
one  April  day,  almost  exactly  four  years  after  that  other 
April  day  made  memorable  by  the  first  enlistment  of 
Western  students,  the  hack  came  in  from  Cedar  Rapids, 
draped  in  mourning,  and  soon  the  word  was  passed  in 
awed  undertones  from  lip  to  lip  that  Lincoln  had  been 
assassinated.  As  the  rumor  spread,  men  and  women 
crowded  around  the  post  office  or  filled  the  streets  in  ex- 
cited groups,  most  of  them  openly  weeping  either  from 
uncontrollable  anger  or  from  hopeless  sorrow.  The  first 
tidal  wave  of  feeling  was  one  of  fiery  indignation  and 
resentment  against  the  South  and  against  those  in  the 
North  who  had  opposed  Lincoln  and  thus  helped  to  make 
the  present  calamity  possible,  and  the  impulse  was  to  rise 
as  one  man  and  help  grind  to  powder  all  the  enemies  of 
Lincoln.  In  a  few  days,  however,  after  it  became  evident 
that  the  assassination  was  not  the  result  of  a  conspiracy  on 
the  part  of  the  South  and  their  sympathizers  to  gain  by 
treachery  what  they  had  failed  to  gain  by  force,  but 
was  the  work  of  a  half-crazed  actor  and  a  few  irrespon- 
sible accomplices,  feeling  at  Western  as  all  over  the  North 
quieted  down  into  a  calm  of  settled  sorrow. 

After  the  war  closed  and  the  soldier  boys  returned 
home,  so  many  of  them  flocked  to  school  at  Western  that 
town  and  College  suddenly  experienced  a  great  trans- 
formation.     Classes  that  had  been  composed  of  young 

117 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

women  and  two  or  three  striplings,  were  now  made  up 
largely  of  bronze-cheeked  men  who  walked  with  military 
precision.  One  or  two  teachers,  having  completed  their 
term  of  enlistment,  returned  and  took  up  the  work  of 
instruction.  Masculine  voices  again  dominated  about  the 
hallways  and  campus  and  in  song  at  the  chapel  hour. 
Joy  that  the  war  was  over  and  that  the  soldier  boys  were 
back  in  school  led  the  officers  of  the  College  for  a  time 
to  forget  the  distressed  condition  of  college  finances  and 
the  slight  prospect  of  adequate  relief  in  the  near  future. 

There  was  some  apprehension  at  first  lest  the  boys  from 
the  army  should  bring  to  the  school  the  rude  manners 
and  vicious  practices  of  the  camp  and  thus  prove  a  con- 
tamination. Quite  the  contrary,  however,  occurred,  as  a 
more  earnest  and  orderly  body  of  young  men  could  not 
have  been  found  anywhere.  Furthermore,  in  the  winter 
of  1866,  occurred  the  greatest  religious  awakening  that 
Western  ever  experienced.  President  William  Davis, 
the  "Old  Man  Eloquent"  of  Iowa,  was  pastor  at  the  time, 
perhaps  the  most  powerful  preacher  in  the  Church  in  the 
West.  The  revival  started  on  a  certain  quarterly  meet- 
ing occasion ;  it  seemed  to  spring  up  spontaneously  among 
the  young  men  in  their  rooms  one  evening.  When  the 
time  for  service  arrived,  they  formed  a  procession  and 
marched  singing  to  the  chapel ;  then  two  and  two  up  the 
aisle  and  filled  the  altar,  still  singing  until  the  presiding 
elder,  remarking,  "There  is  no  need  of  preaching  to- 
night," gave  the  invitation  at  once.  Numbers  dropped  at 
the  altar  where  they  stood,  and  others  rushed  forward 
until  thirty  were  kneeling,  most  of  whom  were  converted 
that  night. 

On  the  fourth  of  May,  following  the  great  religious 
awakening,  came  the  saddest  possible  ending  to  a  day 

118 


The  Patriotism  of  Western 

begun  in  merrymaking,  an  accident  that  brought  crushing 
grief  to  three  homes  and  cast  a  deeper  gloom  over  the 
whole  community  than  even  the  most  serious  events  of 
the  war  had  produced.  A  merry  party  of  students  went 
out  from  Western  for  a  day's  fishing  in  the  Cedar  River 
at  a  point  near  Esquire  Snyder's,  four  miles  below  Cedar 
Rapids.  Four  of  the  party,  Ezra  Davis,  lately  returned 
from  the  war,  and  his  sister,  Mary,  son  and  daughter  of 
President  Davis,  Miss  Anna  Risinger,  an  only  daughter 
from  Forreston,  Illinois,  and  John  C.  Chamberlain,  a 
returned  soldier  from  North  Bend,  Iowa,  got  into  a  skiff 
and  rowed  out  into  the  stream.  The  skiff  was  very  light 
and  a  slight  movement  caused  it  to  dip  water,  thereby 
sinking  the  hinder  part  and  throwing  the  occupants  into 
the  water.  All  four  were  drowned.  The  bodies  of  Ezra 
Davis  and  Miss  Risinger  were  recovered  that  day,  but  the 
other  two  were  not  found  for  several  days.  A  messenger 
carried  the  news  to  President  Davis  at  Western,  and  he 
started  in  haste  to  meet  the  sorrowful  procession.  The 
first  wagon  he  met  contained  the  body  of  his  son,  his 
living  daughter,  Lou,  hysterical  with  grief  and  utterly 
uncontrollable,  and  others  of  the  party.  Though  almost 
crushed,  and  with  tears  streaming  down  his  kindly  face, 
he  reached  out  his  hand  to  his  daughter  and  exclaimed, 
"Well,  Lucina,  the  Lord  gave  and  the  Lord  hath  taken 
away;  blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord."  That  day  is 
not  likely  to  be  forgotten  by  any  who  experienced  its  sad 
occurrence. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  the  war  the  trustees  of  the 
College  tried  repeatedly  to  give  due  recognition  to  services 
rendered  by  the  students  in  the  nation's  hour  of  need. 
At  one  time  it  was  a  resolution  of  thankfulness  that  the 
College  "has  lived  through  the  fiery  ordeal  of  our  nation's 

119 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

affliction,  and  has  not  only  witnessed,  but  to  an  unpre- 
cedented extent  aided  in  her  triumph  over  secession  and 
rebellion,  having  furnished  more  soldiers  for  the  Union 
cause  in  proportion  to  the  number  of  her  students  than 
any  other  institution  of  learning  in  the  United  States,  as 
we  learn  from  their  published  statistics,  and  not  one 
soldier  for  the  rebellion."  Again,  and  more  to  the  point, 
the  trustees  started  a  fund  for  educating  wounded  and 
indigent  soldiers,  and  the  children  of  such  soldiers,  and 
this  they  did  when  the  College  needed  every  dollar  it  could 
'get  for  the  paying  of  the  pressing  debts  of  the  institution. 
It  has  been  left,  however,  till  the  present  day  for  the 
College  to  erect  a  permanent  memorial  to  the  memory  of 
those  of  her  sons  who  enlisted  in  their  country's  service. 
The  movement  was  started  a  few  years  ago  by  President 
C.  J.  Kephart,  seconded  by  Col.  A.  D.  Collier  and  Mrs. 
S.  J.  Staves.  Now,  through  the  generous  gifts  of  Mrs. 
Adam  Shambaugh,  Mrs.  S.  J.  Staves,  and  Mrs.  John 
Shambaugh,  and  special  favors  from  the  manufacturers, 
Krebs  Brothers,  of  Cedar  Rapids,  a  beautiful  bronze 
tablet,  inscribed  with  the  name  and  regiment  of  each 
Western  College  teacher  and  student  who  served  in  any 
part  of  the  war,  has  been  placed  on  the  wall  of  the  chapel 
among  the  pictures  of  former  presidents  of  the  College, 
and  side  by  side  with  a  tablet  commemorating  the  magnifi- 
cent gifts  of  Major  Clark,  Andrew  Carnegie,  and  other 
donors.  Thus  the  College  pays  the  tribute  of  grateful 
recognition  not  only  to  its  material  benefactors,  but  as 
well  to  those  who  have  bequeathed  it  a  sacred  heritage  of 
patriotism.  The  names  inscribed  upon  this  distinguished 
roll  of  honor,  collected  with  infinite  pains  by  Mrs.  Staves, 
are  as  follows : 


120 


The  Patriotism  of  Western 


CIVIL  WAR  SOLDIERS 

WHO  WERE 

STUDENTS  OF  WESTERN  COLLEGE. 

Erastus  B.  Soper Co.  K,  1st  la. 

Edwin  E.  McKee Co.  K,  1st  la. 

George  C.  Fuhrmeister Co.  K,  1st  la, 

Benjamin  F.  Whistler Co.  K,  1st  la. 


John  R.  Vanarsdale Co.  K,  1st  la. 

Daniel  Dernes Co.  K,  1st  la. 

1st  la. 

1st  la. 

1st  la. 


A.  B.  Reeves Co.  K, 

Joseph  Van  Meter Co.  K, 

William  Walt Co.  K, 


Alfred  D.  Collier Co.  K,  1st  la. 

David  Secor Co.  C,  2d  la. 

John  F.  Hemperly Co.  G,  2d  la. 

Thomas  F.  Cochran Co.  F,  4th  la. 

F.  W.  Scott Co.  F,  4th  la. 

W.  B.  Thompson 7th  la. 

Thomas  S.  Free Co.  C,  10th  la. 

Gillum  S.  Tolliver Co.  K 

Madison  C.  Staves Co.  K 

Miller  Tallman Co.  K 

Warren  W.  Meeker Co.  A 

Martin  Shellabarger Co.  A 

P.  B.  Zuver Co.  D 

Allen  M.  Blanchard Co.  D 

John  H.  Weaver Co.  D 

Charles  E.  Putnam Co.  G 

Wallace  W.  Watkins Co.  H 

Joseph  Legore Co.  F, 

Isaac  Berger  Co.  F, 

William  G.  Berger Co.  F, 

Alvin  Baker Co.  F, 

121 


,  10th 

la. 

,  11th 

la. 

,  11th 

la. 

,  11th 

la. 

,  11th 

la. 

,  12th 

la. 

,  12th 

la. 

,  12th 

la. 

r,   13th 

la. 

:,  13th 

la. 

',  14th 

la. 

:,  14th 

la. 

\  14th 

la. 

\  14th 

la. 

Western — Leartder-Clark  College 

Samuel  Ehrhart   Co.  F,  14th  la. 

George  Richardson Co.  F,  14th  la. 

Benjamin  Rainford    Co.  F,  14th  la. 

William  Weaver Co.  F,  14th  la. 

Uriah  Wumbaugh  ............  Co.  F,  14th  la. 

Silas  W.  M.  Grove. .....  i; ; . ,  .Co.  E,  15th  la. 

Henry  Ingham   ....;.... 16th  la. 

William  P.  Henderson Co.  H,  18th  la. 

Manson  R.  Jordan Co.  F,  20th  la. 

Alcinus  Weaver Co.  H,  20th  la. 

A.  M.  Menson 20th  la. 

Aaron  Rucker Co.  A,  20th  la. 

John  C.  Shrader Co.  H,  22d  la. 

James  L.  Perry Co.  H,  22d  la. 

Adam  Leibernecht Co.  H,  22d  la. 

William  O.  Beam Co.  H,  22d  la. 

William  H.  Stiles Co.  H,  22d  la. 

William  H.  Hastings Co.  H,  22d  la. 

Robert  G.  Shuey Co.  H,  22d  la. 

Jacob  Bollenbaugh    Co.  H,  22d  la. 

George  Shockley Co.  H,  22d  la. 

Joseph  Chandler  Co.  H,  22d  la. 

Gabriel  M.  Huffman Co.  H,  22d  la. 

Charles  H.  Weed Co.  H,  22d  la. 

Edward  Goodison  Co.  H,  22d  la. 

John  Lamm  Co.  H,  22d  la. 

Henry  Lamm Co.  H,  22d  la. 

Alex.  E.  Stewart Co.  H,  22d  la. 

Mathias  W.  Stover Co.  K,  22d  la. 

Sylvester  S.  Dillman Co.  E,  24th  la. 

John  C.  Chamberlain Co.  E,  28th  la. 

Jeremiah  Wr  Hook Co.  F,  30th  la. 

Joseph  Blakeslee Co.  G,  31st  la. 

122 


The  Patriotism  of  Western 

James  Blakeslee Co.  G,  31st  la. 

Isaac  Anderson Co.  A,  31st  la. 

George  L.  Burdick Co.  A,  33d  la. 

Oliver  Schee Co.  A,  33d  la. 

George  Burmeister Co.  E,  35th  la. 

Abram  A.  Snyder Co.  E,  35th  la. 

James  S.  Kelley Co.  F,  35th  la. 

John  C.  Eckles Co.  F,  35th  la. 

James  C.  Lowery Co.  G,  36th  la. 

Benjamin  B.  Griffith 40th  la. 

Ezra  C.  Ebersole Co.  D,  44th  la. 

Daniel  McKellar Co.  D,  44th  la. 

Robert  F.  Townley Co.  D,  44th  la. 

William  R.  Horn Co.  D,  44th  la. 

M.  A.  Baumgardner Co.  D,  44th  la. 

James  M.  Hartley Co.  D,  44th  la. 

Benjamin  H.  Heminger Co.  D,  44th  la. 

John  H.  Jenkins Co.  D,  44th  la. 

Benjamin  F.  Manbeck Co.  D,  44th  la. 

Abram  H.  Neidig Co.  D,  44th  la. 

John  H.  Sniveley Co.  D,  44th  la. 

James  H.  Stewart Co.  D,  44th  la. 

Leander  Darling Co.  D,  44th  la. 

James  H.  Vandever Co.  D,  44th  la. 

William  Willey Co.  D,  44th  la. 

Edwin  H.  Smith Co.  D,  44th  la. 

Martin  B.  Weaver Co.  D,  44th  la. 

John  G.  Rittgers Co.     I,  44th  la. 

Silas  W.  Hopkins Co.  H,  44th  la. 

Sylvester  Kinney  Co.  K,  44th  la. 

James  P.  Meredith Co.  F,  44th  la. 

Homer  R.  Page Co.  B,  46th  la. 

H.  B.  Watters Co.  G,  2d  la.  Cav. 

123 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

Jacob  Haight Co.  G,  2d  la.  Cav. 

William  S.  Perry Co.  H,  2d  la.  Cav. 

Jacob  K.  Wagner Co.  H,  2d  la.  Cav. 

Ellis  W.  Lamm Co.  H,  2d  la.  Cav. 

J.  N.  W.  Rumple Co.  H,  2d  la.  Cav. 

E.  J.  Boget Co.  H,  2d  la.  Cav. 

John  I.  Johnson Co.  E,  4th  la.  Cav. 

George  H.  Bollenbaugh.  .  .  .Co.  E,  4th  la.  Cav. 

Oliver  P.  Cohoe Co.  B,  8th  111. 

Ezra  C.  Davis Co.  I,  54th  111. 

John  H.  Henry Co.  H,  93d  111. 

I.  L.  Kephart 21st  Pa. 

Henry  Sheak Co.  I,  19th  Ohio. 

Regiments  Unknown. 
John  H.  Shea. 
John  Allison. 
Edward  Little. 
Henry  Coleman. 


124 


Chapter  VII. 

DAWN  OF  A  NEW  ERA.  PRESIDENT  E.  B.  KEPHART. 
LARGER  ATTENDANCE.  INCREASING  FINANCIAL  EM- 
BARRASSMENT. 

The  year  1868  has  already  been  characterized  as  a 
period  of  transition.  Up  to  that  time  the  College  had 
not  been  able  to  escape  from  the  feeling  that  perhaps 
the  institution  itself  was  still  an  experiment,  and  each 
new  year  and  each  new  experiment  a  kind  of  temporary 
makeshift  to  be  superseded  by  something  more  perma- 
nent as  soon  as  that  better  thing  could  be  attained.  The 
sense  of  uncertainty  and  change  was  greatly  aggravated 
during  the  trying  times  of  the  Civil  War  and  the  two 
or  three  years  following.  Teachers  and  officers  changed 
frequently  and  the  College  was  forced  to  practice  a  hand- 
to-mouth  policy  in  financial  matters.  In  a  moment  of 
desperation,  in  1866,  the  executive  committee  had  issued 
a  kind  of  ultimatum  to  the  citizens  that  they  must  raise 
four  thousand  dollars,  suggesting  by  implication,  at 
least,  that  if  this  were  not  done  the  College  would  be  com- 
pelled to  move  to  a  more  favorable  location.  Though 
the  people  of  Western  rallied  gallantly,  as  they  had  so 
often  done  before,  and  were  destined  to  do  again,  they 
felt  much  aggrieved  at  the  suggestion  of  removal,  and 
were  pacified  only  when  the  Board,  at  its  next  meeting, 
gave  positive  assurance  that  the  College  should  remain 
at  Western. 

By  the  end  of  1868  a  firmer  courage  and  a  surer 
hope  began  to  take  possession  of  the  friends  of  the  Col- 
lege.     They  had  seen  their  institution  pass  through  a 

125 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

severe  crisis  and  begin  to  show  signs  of  reviving  vigor. 
Students  home  from  the  war  returned  to  school  in  larger 
numbers,  bringing  other  students  with  them.  The  inter- 
nal affairs  of  school  seem  to  have  been  more  satisfactory 
now  than  at  any  other  time  since  the  "golden  days"  before 
the  war.  The  first  resolution  in  a  long  list  offered  at  the 
board  meeting,  in  June,  1868,  is: 

"Resolved,  That  we  are  filled  with  delight  in  witnessing 
the  greatly  improved  condition  of  the  College  buildings, 
and  that  we  are  not  now  ashamed  to  have  strangers  visit 
our  institution,  and  can,  with  confidence,  invite  students 
to  make  it  a  place  for  the  procurement  of  useful  knowl- 
edge." 

Other  resolutions  commended  the  present  faculty,  es- 
pecially in  the  matter  of  discipline.  It  will  be  remem- 
bered that  this  is  the  year  in  which  Principal  Ebersole 
tried  the  experiment  of  dispensing  with  formal  rules. 

Finally  it  was  resolved,  "That  we  remember  the  mis- 
takes of  the  past  only  to  avoid  them  in  the  future,  and 
that  we  begin  anew  the  work  of  building  Western  College, 
and  that  in  the  undertaking  we  aim  at  nothing  less  than 
an  institution  equal  and,  if  possible,  superior  to  any  in 
the  northwest." 

"Resolved,  That  we  proceed  to  elect  a  permanent  fac- 
ulty consisting  of : 

"1.  A  president,  who  shall  also  be  Professor  of 
Mental  and  Moral  Science. 

"2.     A  professor  of  Latin  and  Greek. 

"3.     A  professor  of  Natural  Science. 

"4.     A  principal  of  the  Ladies'  Department. 

"5.     A  musical  teacher." 

126 


Dawn  of  a  New  Era 

The  fact  to  note  in  the  above  is  the  new  thought  of 
permanency  and  the  dawning  sense  of  needing  a  contin- 
uous policy. 

The  summer  vacation  of  1868  began  thus  with  rising 
courage  and  growing  hope.      In  the  meantime,  President 
Ebersole  found  it  expedient  to  accept  the  offer  of  the 
State  University;  not,  however,  until  he  had  helped  to 
secure  a  suitable  successor  for  the  work  at  Western.    For 
three  years,   that  is  since  the  resignation  of   President 
William  Davis,  in  1865,  to  June,  1868,  the  College  had 
been  without  a  president,  the  teachers  placed  in  charge 
during  that   time  being   officially  known   as  principals. 
Now  it  was  felt  that  the  time  had  come  to  revive  the  office 
of  president  with  all  the  prerogatives  and  prestige  that 
go  with  that  office,  and  Professor  Ebersole  was  elected 
to  the  presidency.     When,  during  the  summer,  he  decided 
to  lay  down  the  duties  of  the  office,  another  man  was 
sought  who  would  bring  to  the  work  steadfastness  of 
purpose,  weighty  personality,  and  sound  business  judg- 
ment.    'President   Ebersole's  mind  naturally  turned  to 
one  who  had  been  his  fellow-student  at  Mount  Pleasant 
College  and  later  at  Otterbein  University,  one  who  had 
shown  sturdy  persistence  and  nobleness  of  purpose  in  his 
own  struggles  to  secure  an  education,  and  who  possessed 
the  qualities  that  would  strengthen  the  new  feeling  of 
permanency  at  Western,  Rev.  E.  B.  Kephart,  pastor  of 
the  United  Brethren  Church  at  Mount  Pleasant,  Pennsyl- 
vania.    At  the  suggestion  of  President  Ebersole  the  presi- 
dency was  offered  to   Mr.   Kephart,   and   after   devout 
deliberation  on  his  part,  was  accepted.     As  a  large  part  of 
the  history  of  Western  College  for  thirteen  years  centers 
about  the  life  of  President  Kephart,  it  will  be  necessary 
to  give  some  aspects  of  that  life  in  considerable  detail. 

127 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

Ezekiel  Boring  Kephart,  the  son  of  hardy  pioneers  in 
the  mountains  of  Pennsylvania,  inherited  to  some  extent 
the  racial  characteristics  of  his  Swiss,  German,  English, 
and  Pennsylvania  Dutch  ancestors.  His  biographer,  Rev. 
L.  F.  John,  says:  "In  him  were  happily  combined  the 
Swiss  love  of  freedom  and  hatred  of  tyranny,  whether  in 
state  or  church,  class  or  individual ;  the  German  philoso- 
phical and  theological  bent ;  the  common  sense  and  prac- 
tical solidity  of  the  English;  and  the  frugal  industry  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Dutch." 

Among  the  pioneers  of  those  days,  especially  of  the 
mountain  districts,  school  privileges  were  very  meager. 
The  Kephart  children  were  first  taught  at  home  by  their 
mother  and  were  then  sent  to  school  whenever  opportunity 
offered,  at  best  only  a  few  months  out  of  the  year,  and 
then  the  schools  were  usually  poorly  taught  and  lacking 
wholly  the  power  to  inspire.  The  influence  of  that  home, 
aided  by  that  of  an  intelligent  Scotch  neighbor,  kept  the 
worth  of  learning  at  least  dimly  before  the  mind  of  young 
Ezekiel,  and,  above  all,  inculcated  principles  of  inflexible 
morality  and  sturdy  devotion.  At  the  age  of  seventeen, 
with  his  conversion  at  a  camp  meeting,  came  the  spiritual 
awakening  that  touched  his  whole  life  with  a  hallowing 
though  quiet  flame.  Then  at  twenty-one  came  the  great 
intellectual  awakening,  such  as  comes  in  some  degree  to 
every  life  that  counts  for  much  in  the  service  of  man- 
kind. 

At  that  particular  time  providence  saw  fit  to  send  into 
the  neighborhood  two  aspiring  young  school  teachers, 
ardent  students  and  school  chums.  One  took  the  Kephart 
School  and  the  other  taught  in  the  adjoining  district. 
That  winter  work  was  scarce  and  the  two  young  Kep- 
harts,  E.  B.,  twenty-one,  and  I.  L.,  somewhat  older,  were 

128 


PRESIDENT  J    S.  MILLS,  D.D. 
President  of  Western  Cu  liege  through  the  Time  of  the  Fire  and  Rebuilding,  1889-1892. 


PRESIDENT  A.  M.  BEAL,  M.D. 
President  of  Western  College  one  year  and  Member  of  the  Faculty  twelve  years. 


Dawn  of  a  Nezv  Era 

at  a  loss  as  to  what  to  do ;  a  suggestion  from  their  father 
determined  them  to  go  to  school,  a  suggestion  heeded  all 
the  more  readily  because  they  had  begun  to  realize  their 
serious  lack  of  education.  As  they  were  over  age,  the 
school  authorities  had  first  to  be  convinced  of  their  good 
intentions.  The  schools  taught  by  the  two  chums  from 
Cassville  Academy  were  revelations  to  the  neighborhood. 
The  usual  subjects  of  the  country  school  of  that  day  were 
presented  with  freshness  and  inspiration  and  additional 
classes  in  English  grammar  and  geography  were  intro- 
duced, and  even  English  literature  and  public  speaking 
received  attention.  Two  small  papers  were  published 
by  the  schools  and  the  Kephart  brothers  were  the  editors. 
One  school  celebrated  Washington's  birthday — a  thing 
unheard  of  in  that  region — and  the  other  school  took  part. 
Both  schools  joined  in  a  grand  closing  exhibition. 

After  such  a  taste  of  the  joys  of  learning  and  stimu- 
lating mental  activity  it  was  inevitable  that  great  longings 
should  stir  in  the  depths  of  the  two  newly-awakened 
minds.  The  momentous  decision  that  turned  the  tide  of 
destiny  for  two  lives,  and  largely  influenced  the  future  of 
the  whole  Church,  came  one  Sunday  morning  as  the  two 
brothers  sat  on  the  bed  earnestly  debating  the  college 
question.  They  knew  something  of  what  an  education 
would  cost  them  and  what  hardships  they  must  endure  to 
secure  it.  Finally  E.  B.'s  jaw  closed  with  a  fixedness 
that  left  no  room  for  change,  and  he  said  with  great  delib- 
eration, "Well,  I'm  going  to  school."  And  I.  L.,  with 
more  sprightliness,  but  with  no  less  finality,  answered,  "If 
you  go,  I'm  going  too."  That  was  in  1856,  the  very  year 
that  saw  the  birth  of  Western  College. 

So  E.  B.  Kephart  entered  upon  the  long,  arduous  road 
to  learning,  first  at  Dickinson  Academy,  then  at  Mount 

129 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

Pleasant  College,  later  at  Otterbein  University,  with  inter- 
vals out  for  earning  money — now  teaching  school,  now 
rafting  logs,  and  later,  after  deciding  to  enter  the  min- 
istry as  his  life's  work,  preaching,  a  method  of  earning 
money  so  slow  in  those  days,  especially  for  a  young  man 
who  married  in  the  meantime  and  had  a  home  to  provide 
for,  that  years  slipped  away  before  he  was  able  to  return 
and  complete  his  college  course.  It  was  characteristic 
of  him  that  the  purpose  of  completing  his  education  once 
formed  he  should  not  lose  sight  of  it  for  a  moment  until 
the  purpose  could  be  fulfilled. 

After  his  graduation  in  1865,  he  served  one  year  as 
president  of  Collegiate  Institute,  a  school  of  the  Church 
at  Leoni,  Michigan,  and  then,  convinced  that  the  attempt 
to  maintain  the  school  was  a  mistake,  he  returned  to  Alle- 
gheny Conference  and  accepted  work  at  Mount  Pleasant, 
from  which  he  was  called,  in  1868,  to  the  presidency  of 
Western  College. 

Here  a  task  of  peculiar  difficulty  and  complexity  await- 
ed President  Kephart.  Among  the  friends  of  the  College 
a  feeling  was  springing  up  that  a  better  day  was  at  hand, 
but  that  feeling  awaited  a  leader  to  turn  it  to  account. 
Finances  were  in  a  chaotic  state  and  needed  to  be  reduced 
to  a  system,  a  task  requiring  years  to  accomplish  even 
partially.  The  internal  affairs  of  the  College  were  in 
need  of  a  well-ordered  policy  administered  by  a  firm  hand 
directed  by  a  warm  heart.  The  College  buildings,  and 
even  the  village  had  begun  to  wear  an  air  of  unpainted 
neglect,  an  air  temporarily  removed  by  strenuous  effort, 
but  destined  afterward  to  increase  with  the  years. 

Fortunately  President  Kephart  was  blessed  with  a  large 
share  of  saving  common  sense,  a  rich  store  of  homely 
humor,  a  rare  vein  of  human  kindness,  and  a  sensitive 

130 


Dawn  of  a  New  Era 

faith  in  the  Unseen  Power  that  supports  a  righteous 
cause,  a  faith  cultivated  by  his  years  in  the  ministry,  and 
consecrated  when  he  and  his  young  bride  accepted  ap- 
pointment to  the  then  distant  mission  post  in  the  Territory 
of  Washington,  from  which,  even  after  the  journey  was 
begun,  they  were  recalled  by  the  Board  because  of  the 
approaching  Civil  War. 

In  order  to  bring  themselves  into  close  touch  with  the 
every-day  life  of  the  school,  the  president  and  his  family, 
for  the  first  two  years  of  his  administration,  occupied 
rooms  in  Lane  Hall,  one  of  the  College  buildings  used  for 
a  ladies'  dormitory.  After  that  they  occupied  their  own 
home,  a  home  that  became  the  real  center  of  college  life 
and  influence.  Here  again  it  will  be  appropriate  to  quote 
from  the  "Life  of  Ezekiel  Boring  Kephart,"  by  his  son- 
in-law,  Dr.  L.  F.  John: 

"His  administration  is  known  for  its  mingling  of  kind- 
ness and  firmness.  He  always  sought  to  ally  the  best 
students  with  himself  by  taking  them  into  his  confidence 
and  counsel,  so  as  to  make  them  feel  personally  respon- 
sible. At  one  time  when  there  was  some  commotion  in 
the  dormitory,  he  called  in  a  young  man,  now  prominent 
as  a  scholar  in  the  Church,  and  said  to  him  in  substance, 
'Now  how  can  we  best  succeed  in  bettering  conditions  and 
preserving  order  in  the  dormitories?'  The  student  says 
that  he  always  afterward  felt  that  he  ought  to  help  the 
president  in  every  way  possible.  This  is  an  illustration 
of  his  methods  of  governing  men.  He  never  drove  where 
possible  to  lead. 

"As  a  teacher,  he  stimulated  manhood  and  womanhood. 
He  did  not  underestimate  the  value  of  language,  science, 
and  philosophy,  but  he  cared  more  for  character.  One 
of  his  predominant  traits  through  life  was  his  charity  for 

131 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

the  erring  who  really  desired  to  do  right.  Only  eternity 
can  reveal  how  many  were  stimulated  to  noble  endeavor 
for  pure  living  by  the  fact  that  Bishop  Kephart  trusted 
them.  One  who  was  his  student  in  Western  says  of  him : 
'I  was  sometimes  rude,  he  was  always  patient ;  discour- 
aged, he  would  bear  me  up ;  and  when  I  did  wrong,  he 
forgot  it.  As  time  goes  on,  I  realize  more  and  more  how 
his  influence  in  the  earlier  years  has  entered  into  the  shap- 
ing of  my  life  in  these  later  years.'  " 

Because  of  the  lofty  integrity  of  his  character  and  the 
qualities  of  heart  and  personality  indicated  above,  Presi- 
dent Kephart  gradually  won  the  confidence  and  esteem 
of  the  students,  townspeople,  church  constituency,  and 
the  larger  citizenship  of  the  State.  A  student  in  trouble 
or  perplexed  by  the  baffling  problems  of  life  knew  where 
to  go  for  wise  and  sympathetic  counsel,  and  not  long 
afterward  statesmen  were  ready  to  invite  him  to  their 
deliberations. 

The  following  extract,  from  a  letter  written  by  Rev. 
M.  R.  Drury  in  response  to  a  request  for  personal  impres- 
sions of  the  College  and  its  teachers,  characterizes  in  brief 
the  closing  years  of  the  preceding  period  and  the  first  four 
years  of  President  Kephart's  term : 

"Entering  college  at  an  early  age,  with  only  the  prepara- 
tion which  a  village  school  of  the  times  afforded,  I  was 
most  susceptible  to  the  impressions  and  influences  which 
the  new  life  in  the  college  world  afforded.  Among  my 
first  teachers  none  so  touched  my  life  as  to  give  me  vision 
and  purpose  as  did  Prof.  M.  W.  Bartlett,  then  acting 
president  of  the  College,  a  tall,  spare  man,  with  an  intelli- 
gent and  kindly  face,  prominent  cheek  bones  and  a  decid- 
edly Roman  nose  and  raven  black  straight  hair.  He  was 
such  a  man  in  bearing  and  character  as  at  once  com- 

132 


Dawn  of  a  New  Era 

manded  my  esteem  and  confidence.  I  remember  him  as 
distinctly  as  a  teacher  of  religion  and  as  a  spiritual  guide 
as  I  do  as  a  teacher  in  the  College.  He  was  not  a  min- 
ister, but  his  activity  in  the  Church  and  Bible  school  gave 
him  a  profound  influence  over  the  young  lives  coming  in 
touch  with  him  in  those  early  days  of  the  College. 

"Next  to  President  Bartlett,  the  one  whose  life  and 
teachings  most  impressed  me,  was  Miss  Hester  A.  Hillis, 
then  the  lady  principal  in  the  College.  She  was  her- 
self not  only  a  thorough  student  and  a  good  and  popular 
teacher,  but  her  interest  in  the  social  and  religious  welfare 
of  the  students  was  such  that  she  became  a  personal  friend 
and  helper  of  all.  She  was  most  self-denying  and  self- 
sacrificing.  She  used  also  to  go  out  into  the  coun- 
try to  schoolhouses  adjacent  to  the  College  and  hold 
religious  services  and  conduct  Sunday  schools.  On  leav- 
ing the  College,  in  1867,  she  became  a  missionary  to  India 
where  she  spent  many  years  in  heroic  and  useful  service. 
Her  death  occurred  a  few  years  ago  and  her  brother, 
Doctor  Hillis,  of  Brooklyn,  New  York,  has  written  a 
worthy  memorial  tribute  to  her  beautiful  and  noble  life. 

"In  speaking  thus  of  first  teachers.  I  would  not  be 
understood  as  speaking  disparagingly  of  other  and  later 
teachers.  President  Kephart  was  a  teacher  greatly  be- 
loved by  his  students,  not  so  much  for  his  scholarship  as 
his  manly  character  and  devotion  to  his  work. 

"I  cannot  now  speak  of  other  teachers  whose  memory  I 
cherish  with  sincere  affection  and  gratitude.  The  College 
had  in  its  faculty  in  the  early  days  noble  men  and  women 
whose  work,  though  done  under  conditions  that  would 
now  be  regarded  as  hard  and  discouraging,  was  most 
effective  in  mental  discipline  and  in  character  building. 
Their  names  may  be  forgotten,  but  their  work  will  abide. 

133 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

"My  impression  is  that  the  highest  end  of  education, 
which  is  the  development  of  a  true  manhood  and  a  true 
womanhood,  was  quite  as  well  realized  in  the  early  his- 
tory of  the  College  with  its  meager  buildings  and  equip- 
ment, as  is  the  case  to-day.  Well  appointed  buildings, 
chemical  and  biological  laboratories,  libraries  and  athletic 
facilities,  and  other  modern  educational  aids  are  all  very 
well  in  their  places,  and  are  greatly  to  be  prized,  but  all 
the  same  it  takes  the  teacher  and  the  student  to  produce 
scholarship  and  character.  I  rejoice  that  the  students  of 
the  present  have  their  superior  advantages  and  oppor- 
tunities, and  they  should  not  forget  that  with  these  there 
are  corresponding  responsibilities." 

When  President  Kephart  first  came,  the  faculty  con- 
sisted, in  addition  to  the  president,  of  William  Langham, 
Professor  of  Ancient  Languages ;  Homer  R.  Page,  Pro- 
fessor of  Natural  Science  and  History;  and  Miss  Emma 
Guitner,  Principal  of  the  Ladies'  Department,  together 
with  the  teacher  of  penmanship  and  bookkeeping  and 
one  of  instrumental  music.  Tutors  were  added  from 
time  to  time,  and  soon  a  teacher  of  painting  and  drawing 
was  appointed,  and  finally  one  of  vocal  music.  Not  until 
1876  was  a  new  chair,  that  of  mathematics,  created,  and 
Professor  R.  E.  Williams  was  chosen  as  its  first  incum- 
bent. Changes  in  the  faculty  remained  all  too  frequent 
for  the  best  interests  of  the  school,  the  hopeful  exceptions, 
in  addition  to  the  president,  being  Prof.  I.  L.  Kephart,  a 
superior  teacher  and  gifted  writer,  who  filled  the  Chair  of 
Natural  Science  and  History  for  five  years,  1871  to  1876, 
and  Professor  Lewis  Bookwalter,  who  occupied  the  Chair 
of  Ancient  Languages  and  Literature  for  six  years,  1873 
to  1879.  These  three  men,  all  educated  in  the  schools  of 
the  Church  and  devoted  to  this  school,  aided  much  in 

134 


Dawn  of  a  New  Era 

giving  a  tone  of  continuity  and  permanency  to  the  faculty 
organization  and  to  the  whole  life  of  the  school,  and 
related  the  College  to  the  civic  life  of  the  community  and 
State  by  accepting  offices  themselves. 

Soon  a  more  vigorous  academic  life  became  evident 
about  the  College.  Literary  societies  took  on  new  activity 
and  others  were  organized.  Debating  and  public  speak- 
ing were  emphasized  with  telling  effect.  Public  rhetori- 
cals  were  the  great  events  of  each  term ;  they  were  partici- 
pated in  by  all  the  students  in  sections,  each  section  in 
charge  of  a  college  professor.  Such  exercises  were 
looked  forward  to  with  interested  anticipations  by  both 
the  participants  and  the  audience,  and  were  talked  about 
afterwards,  furnishing  in  a  measure  the  student  excite- 
ment now  furnished  by  athletic  contests. 

The  improved  internal  life  of  the  school  soon  began  to 
tell  on  the  student  attendance,  especially  in  the  upper 
classes.  The  enrollment  at  the  beginning  of  President 
Kephart's  administration  was  about  one  hundred  and 
forty,  not  more  than  a  dozen  of  whom  were  above  the 
preparatory  department.  The  attendance  worked  up 
until  it  reached  the  high-water  mark,  in  1874,  with  an 
enrollment  of  two  hundred  and  thirty,  fifty-one  of  whom 
were  of  collegiate  rank.  After  that,  owing  to  a  combina- 
tion of  adverse  circumstances,  the  attendance  fell  off  until 
after  the  College  was  removed.  In  1872,  four  years  after 
the  new  order  of  things  was  inaugurated,  the  College 
graduated  a  class  of  ten,  exactly  as  many  as  had  been 
graduated  in  all  the  preceding  years,  a  record  approached 
in  the  years  immediately  following,  but  not  excelled  until 
the  class  of  1877  surpassed  it  by  two. 

The  student  body  of  that  day,  however,  is  more  remark- 
able for  scholarship  and  strength  of  character  than  for 

135 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

numbers,  as  may  be  seen  at  a  glance  at  the  alumni  roll 
of  that  period.  It  is  seldom  that  any  school  can  boast 
of  a  group  of  graduates,  so  large  a  proportion  of  whom 
have  reached  eminence  both  in  the  learned  professions  and 
in  practical  life.  These  go  far  toward  proving  an  asser- 
tion recently  made  by  an  interested  observer,  that  a  larger 
percentage  of  Western  graduates  "make  good"  than  other 
colleges  can  show.  The  period  from  1868  to  1881  saw 
the  graduation  of  sixty-nine  men  and  women ;  sixteen  of 
these  held  professorships  in  Western  College  for  longer 
or  shorter  periods,  the  aggregate  being  sixty-six  years. 
Three  of  them  filled  the  presidency  of  the  College  for 
fifteen  years.  Graduates  of  the  same  period,  including 
the  ones  counted  above,  furnished  six  presidents  and  a 
proportionate  number  of  professors  for  other  colleges, 
besides  a  large  number  of  eminent  ministers,  lawyers, 
doctors,  editors,  and  business  men.  When  these  were 
students  together  the  College  could  not  help  feeling  the 
stirrings  of  awakening  genius — or  latent  mischief.  When 
the  old  boys  meet  now  there  are  wonderful  stories  of  the 
long-ago,  stories  of  that  enchanting  distance  where  harsh 
outlines  melt  in  a  mist  of  romance. 

The  sober-minded  historian  must  not  indulge  in  senti- 
ment or  attempt  to  depict  the  delicate  aura  that  surrounds 
personality ;  and  yet  these  are  the  real  stuff  of  which  the 
history  of  a  college  is  made — the  strange,  unspoken  inti- 
macy of  teacher  and  learner,  "When  one  who  loves  and 
knows  not,  reaps  a  truth  from  one  who  loves  and  knows" ; 
the  student  fellowships  that  entwine  heartstrings  through 
stress  of  common  struggle  or  mutual  mirth.  The  stu- 
dents of  the  70's  will  remember  first  of  all  among  their 
teachers  the  grave  kindly  face  of  President  Kephart,  with 
the  occasional  twinkle  of   humor  in   his  eye,   the  calm 

136 


Dawn  of  a  New  Era 

deliberation  of  his  speech,  the  quiet  dignity  of  his  bear- 
ing, and,  above  all,  the  kindly  heart  that  knew  how  to 
make  allowances  for  them  all.  With  somewhat  different 
emotions  they  will  recall  Professor  I.  L.  Kephart,  with 
his  vivacious  wit,  his  quick  perception,  ready  speech,  and 
lucid  presentation,  his  clear-cut  advice  and  wise  admoni- 
tion, his  facile  pen  and  poetic  diction,  later  to  stand  him 
in  good  stead  in  his  long  service  as  editor  of  the  Religious 
Telescope.  Miss  Emma  Guitner,  a  graduate  of  Otterbein, 
gave  the  Ladies'  Department  splendid  leadership  four 
years,  and  then,  as  the  wife  of  Professor  Bookwalter, 
was  in  close  touch  with  the  life  of  the  school.  The 
other  teachers  from  abroad  stayed  for  shorter  times  and 
perhaps  left  less  lasting  impressions. 

Professor  Lewis  Bookwalter,  keen,  alert,  and  popular 
as  a  student,  active,  earnest,  and  aggressive  as  a  financial 
agent  for  one  year,  took  up  the  work  of  teaching,  fully 
imbued  with  the  spirit  of  the  school,  and  gave  the  depart- 
ment of  Ancient  Languages  a  reputation  for  thoroughness 
and  organization,  a  six  years'  service  for  his  College 
surpassed  only  by  his  longer  turn  later  as  its  president. 
Miss  Anna  Shuey,  another  product  of  Western,  is  re- 
membered gratefully  by  scores  of  students  who  shared 
the  benefits  of  her  instruction  both  in  the  old  days  at 
Western  and  later  at  Toledo. 

For  the  students  of  the  period  under  consideration,  the 
bare  mention  of  names  will  be  sufficient  to  loosen  floods 
of  memories  for  all  connected  with  those  days.  Few 
classes  can  boast  of  such  a  group  of  members  as  was 
made  up  of  Lewis  Bookwalter,  Henry  Custer,  Waldo 
Drury,  Marion  Drury,  Francis  Fry,  Sallie  Perry,  Lucy 
Strother,  Sarah  Surran,  and  Robert  Williams,  a  class 
best  remembered  perhaps  for  its  serious  application  and 

137 


Western — Lcandcr-Clark  College 

solid  worth.  The  next  few  classes  furnish  many  names 
for  the  ministry,  with  an  occasional  one  later  conspicuous 
in  the  law,  in  business,  or  in  teaching — T.  J.  Bauder, 
Milo  Booth,  Henry  Bowman,  Enoch  Light,  Henry  Sheak, 
Cyrus  Kephart,  Francis  Washburn.  Of  a  slightly  differ* 
ent  nature  are  the  traditions  that  gather  about  a  later 
group,  traditions  of  genial  comradeships,  mingled  with 
seriousness  and  mirth-making  and  a  share  of  solid  accom- 
plishment— Harry  Albert,  Milton  Beal — the  mild-man- 
nered, cherub-eyed  plotter  of  innocent  mischief — W.  I. 
Beatty,  the  irrepressible ;  Frank  Smith,  Joe  Bookwalter, 
A.  R.  Burkdol,  W.  J.  Ham,  Josie  Johnson,  the  studious ; 
Abe  Neidig,  U.  D.  Runkle,  Austie  Patterson,  the  serious- 
minded  ;  W.  H.  Klinefelter,  Dan  Miller,  Eli  Ridenour, 
Addie  Dickman,  J.  L.  Drury,  G.  M.  Miller,  and  Rob 
Wilson,  the  solemn-faced  mirth  provoker.  These,  and 
many  others  like  them,  whose  deeds  and  personalities 
must  be  unrecorded  here,  yet  who  went  to  swell  the  whole 
amount,  make  up  an  enduring  chapter  in  the  history  of 
the  College. 

But  enough  of  these  unsubstantial  realities.  The  record 
must  come  to  the  unpoetic  and  tangible.  At  the  begin- 
ning of  President  Kephart's  administration  the  College 
was  obligated  for  something  over  $12,000,  mostly  bor- 
rowed money.  Against  this  it  had  assets  consisting  of 
notes  aggregating  $10,600,  and  lands  in  Illinois  and  Iowa 
valued  at  $1,200,  and  town  lots  valued  at  $1,250.  Many  of 
the  notes  held  by  the  College  were  of  old  standing  and  of 
uncertain  value,  and  probably  none  of  them  paid  any 
interest ;  the  notes  against  the  College  on  the  other  hand 
were  kept  in  force  and  accumulated  interest  regularly. 

The  financial  task,  great  as  it  was,  was  attacked  cour- 
ageously.    A  general  agent  was  appointed  to  attend  the 

138 


Dawn  of  a  New  Era 

sittings  of  the  conferences  cooperating  with  the  College 
and  ask  them  each  to  appoint  a  soliciting  agent  within 
their  own  territory.  As  a  step  toward  greater  perma- 
nency of  income,  agents  were  instructed  to  solicit  pledges 
to  be  paid  in  ten  annual  installments,  the  larger  ones  ten 
dollars  a  year,  the  smaller  ones  five  dollars  a  year.  All 
sums  received  from  such  annual  payments  and  all  amounts 
otherwise  secured  by  the  agents  were  to  be  applied  to  the 
liquidation  of  the  debt.  In  addition,  the  cooperating 
conferences  were  asked  to  raise  one  dollar  per  member 
each  year ;  this  sum  was  to  be  known  as  the  Dollar  Fund, 
and  to  be  applied  toward  the  current  expenses.  This 
plan  was  tried  until  June,  1870,  with  not  very  satisfactory 
results.  It  was  then  decided  to  adopt  some  new  plans, 
all  looking  toward  concentration  of  management  and 
more  continuous  income. 

The  president  of  the  College  was  made  the  virtual 
superintendent  of  agents.  It  was  resolved  that  all  agents 
should  be  created  and  employed  by  the  board.  Dennis 
Gray  was  elected  general  financial  agent,  in  which  capacity 
he  rendered  faithful  and  efficient  service  for  eight  years. 
The  previous  plans  for  the  liquidation  of  the  debt  were 
continued.  To  provide  for  salaries  of  the  teachers  and 
for  current  expenses,  it  was  decided  to  create  two  new 
funds,  one  known  as  the  Endowment  Fund,  and  the  other 
as  the  Scholarship  Fund. 

For  the  first  it  was  decided  to  solicit  notes  secured  by 
real  estate,  personal  security,  or  good  names,  all  notes 
to  draw  interest  payable  annually.  An  agent,  designated 
as  Endowment  Agent,  was  put  into  the  field  to  solicit  for 
this  specific  fund.  Notes  could  be  paid  at  any  time,  and 
the  money  thus  coming  into  the  treasury  was  loaned. 
Only  a  small  portion  of  the  notes  seems  ever  to  have  been 

139 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

paid  in  and  much  of  the  interest  evidently  was  allowed 
to  go  by  default.  The  treasurer's  report  to  the  board, 
June,  1878,  probably  the  high-water  mark,  shows  a  total 
endowment  of  $19,215,  made  up  of  notes,  bequests,  and 
life  insurance  policies.  The  same  report  shows  the  total 
receipts  from  endowment  interest  $486.89,  from  which 
it  is  evident  that  only  a  small  portion  of  the  fund  was 
really  productive.  In  the  end  the  fund  seems  to  have 
practically  disappeared. 

The  Scholarship  Fund  was  to  be  made  up  from  two 
sources — notes  of  $250  at  ten  per  cent.,  payable  annually, 
and  cash  payments  of  $250  each,  the  donation  in  either 
case  to  entitle  the  donor  to  a  perpetual  scholarship  in 
Western  College  good  for  the  tuition  of  one  student  in 
the  regular  college  classes.  The  report  of  1878  shows  a 
scholarship  fund  of  $11,500,  on  which  interest  amounting 
to  $397.06  was  paid,  indicating  that  the  fund  was  not  very 
productive.  Later  experience  has  shown  that  the  issuing 
of  such  perpetual  scholarships  is  an  unfortunate  mortgage 
on  the  future  income  of  the  institution  granting  them. 

The  five  or  six  years  following  the  adoption  of  these 
new  plans  were  reasonably  prosperous.  Attendance 
increased  and  a  number  of  influential  families  moved  to 
Western.  By  counting  all  the  notes  received  during  the 
year  as  good  the  treasurer  was  able  a  few  times  to  report 
a  small  decrease  in  the  debt  total.  It  was  soon  found, 
however,  that  the  debt  was  gradually  gaining,  and  in  the 
later  '70's  the  gain  was  found  to  be  about  $1,500  a  year, 
the  total  in  1881  reaching  $25,000.  In  these  latter  years 
it  became  painfully  evident  that  some  change  must  be 
brought  about ;  some  deeply  concerned  in  the  College 
were  coming  to  the  conviction  that  the  change  most  likely 
to  bring  permanent  relief  was  a  change  of  location. 

140 


Dawn  of  a  Nezv  Era 

Several  men  deserve  special  mention  for  their  loyal 
services  to  the  College  during  this  period.  First  of  all 
was  President  Kephart,  who  taught  classes,  looked  after 
discipline,  directed  the  business  of  the  institution,  visited 
the  cooperating  territory,  and  took  an  active  part  in 
church  and  civic  affairs.  By  his  solid  qualities  of  char- 
acter and  his  large  abilities  he  won  distinction  for  the 
College  within  his  Church  and  prestige  for  it  in  the  State. 
During  the  agitation  over  the  removal  of  the  county  seat 
of  Linn  County  from  Marion  to  Cedar  Rapids,  President 
Kephart  cast  his  influence  in  favor  of  Marion,  in  grati- 
tude for  which  service  a  delegation  of  Marion  citizens 
visited  him  at  Western  and  offered  him  the  nomination 
for  State  senator.  He  finally  accepted,  was  elected,  and 
served  with  distinction  from  1872  to  1876,  still,  however, 
keeping  up  his  duties  as  president  of  the  College.  While 
a  member  of  the  senate  he  was  influential  in  securing  the 
passage  of  the  Iowa  Prohibitory  Law,  and  of  most  im- 
portant legislation  affecting  education  in  Iowa.  It  was 
also  well  known  that  the  vote  of  Senator  Kephart  decided 
the  choice  for  United  States  Senator  in  favor  of  William 
B.  Allison.  By  that  vote  he  gave  Iowa  one  of  her 
greatest  honors,  the  nation  one  of  the  most  conspicuous 
public  servants,  and  Western  College  a  life-long  friend. 
After  his  term  of  office  other  and  higher  civic  honors 
were  offered  him,  from  all  of  which  he  turned  because 
he  had  chosen  the  cause  of  religion  and  religious  educa- 
tion. In  May,  1881,  the  General  Conference  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church,  in  session  at  Lisbon,  Iowa, 
honored  itself  and  Western  College  by  electing  President 
Kephart  to  the  bishopric,  an  office  which  he  filled  with 
great  credit  until  his  death.  His  long  service  as  president 
of  Western  College — a  length  of  service  not  yet  equalled 

141 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

by  any  other  who  has  filled  that  office — convinced  Bishop 
Kephart  of  two  great  truths :  the  Church  must  foster 
education,  and  educational  institutions  must  be  freed 
from  debt  and  then  must  be  kept  free.  Perhaps  no  other 
bishop  did  so  much  as  he  did  toward  reaching  these  two 
desired  ends. 

Perhaps  next  to  the  president  in  arduous,  and  often 
thankless  and  even  maligned  service,  stand  the  financial 
agents,  without  whom  no  Christian  college  could  be  built 
up,  and  certainly  without  whom  Western  College  could 
not  have  survived  the  stormy  period  of  its  early  history. 
Subjected  to  cold  looks  and  colder  rebuffs,  to  hardships 
of  travel  and  inclemency  of  weather,  often  like  homeless 
wanderers,  and  always  with  precarious  compensation, 
either  in  material  rewards  or  in  recognition  of  services 
rendered,  they  nerved  themselves  daily  anew  for  the  day's 
new  conflicts,  and  as  fast  as  one  fell  another  took  his 
place.  Dennis  Gray  continued  in  active  service  during 
the  greater  part  of  the  period  now  under  consideration, 
some  years  as  sole  agent,  more  often  with  one  or  more 
assistants;  he  will  receive  his  just  dues  only  when  the 
closed  volume  of  unwritten  history  shall  be  opened. 
W.  S.  DeMoss  served  for  a  shorter  time,  but  accom- 
plished much  by  his  earnestness  and  zeal.  L.  Book- 
waiter,  I.  L.  Buchwalter,  and  M.  Fulcomer  each  lent  a 
helping  hand  for  a  short  period.  No  little  credit,  too,  is 
due  the  keepers  of  the  treasury,  some  of  whom  were 
active  field  agents  at  the  same  time.  Lewis  Bookwalter 
and  I.  L.  Kephart  deserve  special  mention  for  the  accu- 
racy, neatness,  and  lucidity  of  their  accounts.  Their 
reports  enabled  the  board  to  understand  fully  the  financial 
condition  of  the  school ;  each  was  treasurer  for  three  years. 
W.  J.  Hamm  also  kept  excellent  records  for  one  year. 

142 


Dawn  of  a  New  Era 

Tn  1878,  M.  S.  Drury,  who  had  moved  his  family  to 
Western  three  years  earlier  that  he  might  give  his  per- 
sonal services  to  the  College  more  completely  than  he 
could  do  at  a  distance,  was  made  general  financial  agent 
and  treasurer.  This  was  a  period  of  increasing  depres- 
sion for  the  College.  Attendance  had  fallen  oft"  with  a 
consequent  loss  in  tuitions  and  a  larger  deficit  in  current 
expenses.  Many  in  the  cooperating  territory  were  grow- 
ing indifferent,  or  discouraged,  or  even  hostile,  insomuch 
that  donations  were  difficult  to  secure.  Interest  on  the 
old  debt  was  increasing  at  an  alarming  rate.  Mr.  Drury 
became  wrapped  up  in  the  College,  and  so  ardent  for 
its  success  that  he  donated  his  time  as  agent  and  treasurer 
and  made  frequent  gifts  besides,  the  last  one  being  a 
gift  of  $1,000  conditioned  on  the  raising  of  the  whole 
debt.  He  finally  became  convinced  that  the  location  of 
the  College  was  the  greatest  hindrance  to  ultimate  success, 
and  so  began  to  advocate  a  change,  thereby  bringing  upon 
himself  much  severe  censure.  A  later  chapter  must  show 
more  fully  how  his  life  story  is  interwoven  with  that  of 
the  College. 

Another  group  of  men,  not  usually  recognized  in  any 
degree  commensurate  with  the  amount  and  value  of 
services  rendered,  is  the  Executive  Committee,  composed 
of  business  and  professional  men  already  burdened  with 
work.  The  Executive  Committee  is  called  upon  to  spend 
many  long  hours  periodically  grappling  with  the  knottiest 
of  problems  and  facing  the  most  trying  situations.  The 
Board  meets  once  a  year,  keeps  open  house,  and  goes 
about  its  business ;  the  Executive  Committee  must  stand 
guard  over  the  interests  of  the  College  the  year  around. 
It  is  the  safety  valve  of  the  administration,  the  president's 
cabinet  when  he  needs  advice,  his  buffer  when  he  needs 

143 


Western — Leonder-Clark  College 

a  shield;  and  no  one  knows  the  hours  these  men  spend 
and  the  tasks  they  meet.  Usually,  too,  it  is  the  Executive 
Committee  that  supplies  the  thread  of  continuity  so  nec- 
essary to  the  welfare  of  a  College. 

Both  at  Western  and  at  Toledo,  members  of  the  Execu- 
tive Committee  have  been  in  longer  consecutive  service 
than  can  be  found  in  any  other  branch  of  administration. 
Dr.  W.  B.  Wagner,  conspicuous  in  all  the  early  counsels 
of  the  College,  extended  well  into  this  period  as  a  member 
of  the  Executive  Committee.  J.  W.  Horn,  Adam  Perry, 
and  Ransom  Davis  served  for  fifteen  years  or  more,  a 
large  portion  of  a  busy  man's  active  career.  The  names 
of  Homer  Page,  L.  M.  Healy,  A.  C.  Gilmore,  H.  A. 
Dilling,  John  Kephart,  Ralph  Shatto,  S.  Dice,  J.  Speak, 
T.  Halberson,  David  Silver,  J.  S.  Rock,  and  Doctor 
Manning  appear  as  members  of  the  committee  for  less 
extended  periods. 

The  Board  of  Trustees,  as  the  final  authority  of  the 
College,  exerts  the  largest  influence  in  shaping  general 
policies,  supplying  the  spirit  and  tone  of  the  enterprise 
as  a  whole,  and  in  keeping  the  College  in  vital  touch  with 
the  people.  Names  that  appear  most  frequently  in  the 
minutes  of  the  board  during  these  years  as  present  and 
taking  part  in  iegislation  and  on  committees  are :  M.  S. 
Drury,  Martin  Bowman,  J.  H.  Vandever,  C.  H.  Neidig, 
John  Dorcas,  W.  S.  DeMoss,  S.  R.  Lichtenwalter,  J.  W. 
Eckles,  T.  D.  Adams,  George  Miller,  I.  K.  Statton,  J.  H. 
Grim,  L.  H.  Bufkin,  and  A.  M.  Beal.  These  and  many 
others,  perhaps  equally  interested,  did  much  to  sustain 
the  credit  and  prestige  of  the  College  throughout  these 
years. 

An  extract  from  a  letter  written  by  Dr.  Lewis  Book- 
waiter,  in  response  to  a  request  for  the  story  of  his  con- 

144 


HON.  E.  C.  EBERSOLE,  LL.D. 
Connected  with  Western  since  1863  as  Professor,  Acting  President,  Member  of  Execu- 
tive Committee,  Endowment  Secretary,  and  Legal  Counsel. 


REV.  GEORGE  MILLER,  D.D. 

President   of  the    Board  of   Trustees  twenty-eight  years, 

and  Member  o.   the  Bjaid  thirty-six  years. 


Daivn  of  a  New  Era 

nection  with  the  College  and  his  estimate  of  men  and 
measures,  will  close  this  chapter. 

"I  registered  first,  Jan.  1,  1868,  after  the  winter  term  was 
under  way,  entering  the  common  branches  of  the  academy. 
I  was  several  days  in  coming  from  home  in  Blue  Earth 
County,  Wisconsin,  no  little  of  the  distance  being  by 
stage — on  runners.  I  reached  Cedar  Rapids  on  Saturday 
evening  late,  and  rode  out  to  Western  with  two  Bohe- 
mian men  in  their  wagon.  They  provided  me  a  seat  on  an 
upended  beer  keg.  Acting  President  or  Principal  E.  C. 
Ebersole  had  just  come  to  the  head  of  the  school  and  his 
cordial  reception  and  subsequent  kindly  attentions  I  shall 
never  forget.  Returning  in  the  fall,  I  found  E.  B. 
Kephart  as  new  president.  To  this  man  you  cannot  give 
too  high  a  place  in  the  roll  of  the  makers  of  the  College. 
In  fact,  he  made  it — found  it  practically  an  academy  and 
made  it  a  college.  The  class  of  '72  was  the  first  harvest 
of  his  sowing.  He  was  a  big  man  in  body,  brain,  and 
heart,  also  a  tireless,  hopeful  worker,  and  he  actually 
got  under  the  whole  enterprise  with  his  broad  shoulders, 
lifted  it  up  out  of  the  mire,  and  carried  it  forward 
and  upward.  Through  all  his  administration  the  struggle 
was  to  meet  the  financial  needs.  As  a  teacher  under 
him  for  six  years,  I  think  I  never  settled  with  the  College 
on  salary  without  taking  a  note  for  a  considerable  bal- 
ance. Here,  I  may  add,  a  larger  part  of  these  notes  were 
finally  settled  by  the  holder  forgiving  the  half. 

"My  father  became  interested,  first  through  my  coming 
to  the  College  and  then  by  a  desire  especially  to  educate 
his  children.  Finally,  renting  his  farm  in  Wisconsin,  he 
removed  to  Western  in  the  early  fall  of  1870 — coming  by 
wagon.  He  had  previously  bought  property  in  the  town 
and  a  small  farm  near  by.      He  threw  himself  enthusi- 

145 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

astically  into  the  work  of  building  up  the  College,  gave 
it  money,  was  several  years  College  pastor  and  also  field 
agent.  His  work  as  pastor,  three  years,  was  specially 
successful.  I  remember  that  Austie  Patterson  was  con- 
verted under  his  labors." 


146 


Chapter  VIII. 

AGITATION  FOR  RELOCATION.  CAUSES  LEADING 
THERETO.  PROVIDING  FOR  THE  OLD  DEBT.  SEEKING 
A  NEW  LOCATION.  PROPOSITION  FROM  TOLEDO.  THE 
EMPTY  NEST. 

The  first  suggestion  of  a  possible  removal  of  the  Col- 
lege, at  least  from  an  official  source,  was  contained  in  a 
recommendation  of  the  Executive  Committee  to  the 
Board,  in  June,  1866.  Under  stress  of  pressing  need, 
the  Committee  had  called  on  the  citizens  of  Western  and 
vicinity  to  raise  a  fund  designated  as  the  Four  Thousand 
Dollar  Fund,  and  recommended  that  in  case  the  amount 
could  not  be  raised,  the  school  should  be  removed  to  an- 
other location.  The  recommendation  provoked  a  most 
spirited  discussion  and  finally  called  out  a  resolution  from 
the  Board  to  the  effect  that  the  recommendation  was  pre- 
mature and  should  not  be  considered  farther  at  the  pres- 
ent time.  The  matter  then  seems  to  have  been  dropped 
for  a  number  of  years,  though,  no  doubt,  it  was  occasion- 
ally discussed  in  private.  That  there  was  increased 
thought  in  that  direction  about  1875  is  evident  from  an 
action  of  the  Board  in  June  of  that  year.  In  the  minutes 
of  that  session  is  recorded  a  congratulatory  resolution 
stating  that  "through  the  advice  of  the  Committee  on 
Finance,  arrangements  have  been  effected  by  which  the 
institution  is  placed  upon  a  permanent  basis ;  and  the 
people  of  Western  may  now  look  forward  to  the  period  at 
no  distant  day  when  a  new  and  ample  college  building  shall 
adorn  the  present  beautiful  campus;  and  that  the  matter 
of  moving  the  College  to  another  locality  has  never  been 

147 


Western — Le  and  er -Clark  College 

entertained  by  the  Board  of  Trustees,  but  has  simply 
been  an  outside  rumor  without  official  consideration." 

The  question,  however,  was  not  so  easily  disposed  of 
as  the  Board  seemed  to  think.  No  later  than  November 
of  the  same  year,  the  editor  of  the  Lisbon  Sun,  in  an 
argument  for  the  removal  of  the  College  to  Lisbon, 
writes : 

"The  present  buildings  of  the  U.  B.  College  at  Western 
are  in  an  unsuitable  condition  to  meet  the  growing  demand 
of  the  school  and  will  soon  have  to  be  rebuilt.  To  re- 
place them  at  Western  is  a  conceded  folly.  Bishop 
Glossbrenner  repudiates  the  idea,  and  the  directors,  fac- 
ulty, and  friends  of  the  school  look  upon  such  a  project 
as  disastrous  and  extremely  unwise.  Besides  its  isolation 
and  wretched  access,  its  surroundings  are  such  as  to  pre- 
clude the  hope  of  the  growth  and  success  which  would 
surely  follow  its  removal  to  Lisbon.  The  friends  of  the 
Church  at  large  and  the  citizens  of  Lisbon,  without  re- 
gard to  denomination,  are  interested  in  this  change." 

That,  of  course,  is  a  prejudiced  view  meant  to  create 
sentiment  in  favor  of  the  change  suggested,  and  yet  it  is 
probable  that  the  opinions  expressed  in  the  editorial  were 
shared  in  a  measure  by  many  of  those  concerned  in  the 
permanent  welfare  of  the  College. 

Early  in  1876  the  same  paper  contained  the  following: 

"The  efforts  of  Western  to  raise  the  necessary  amount 
for  a  railroad  savors  of  no  success.  Good  men  who  really 
intended  to  give  from  $500  to  $1,000  now  step  back  and 
decline  to  donate  a  dollar,  upon  the  ground  that  the  loca- 
tion of  the  College  will  ultimately  be  changed,  railroad 
or  no  railroad,  and  they  do  not  want  to  give  toward  a 
railroad  for  Western  and  still  contribute  their  intended 
aid  to  the  College.     They  will  give,  you  see,  to  the  College 

148 


Agitation  for  Relocation 

no  matter  where  it  may  permanently  be  located,  but  have 
no  surplus  means  to  Invest  merely  to  give  temporary  aid 
to  Western." 

For  the  next  two  or  three  years  the  agitation  of  the 
question  of  the  removal  of  the  College  was  intermittent 
and  unofficial.  Meanwhile,  Western  was  grasping  at 
every  straw  of  hope  for  a  railroad,  and  it  was  becoming 
more  difficult  to  secure  students  and  money  for  the  Col- 
lege. Before  the  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  in 
June,  1880,  discussion  had  become  so  widespread  and  so 
earnest,  participated  in  by  the  financial  agent  and  others 
immediately  connected  with  the  school,  that  it  was  evident 
that  the  matter  would  be  brought  officially  to  the  notice 
of  the  Board.  The  columns  of  the  Western  Light  were 
filled  with  arguments  pro  and  con,  mostly,  however,  ardent 
pleas  for  leaving  the  College  at  Western— sentimental 
appeals  in  behalf  of  the  spot  consecrated  by  their  fathers 
and  adorned  by  their  toils  and  sacrifices,  arguments  to 
prove  that  the  present  state  of  the  College  was  due  rather 
to  the  wilful  neglect  on  the  part  of  the  ministers  and 
church  people  than  to  the  location,  and,  strongest  argu- 
ment of  all,  the  obligation  of  the  College  to  those  who 
had  made  repeated  donations  to  the  school  because  it  was 
at  their  doors,  and  to  those  who  had  come  to  Western 
for  the  sake  of  the  school  and  had  built  up  homes  prima- 
rily with  a  view  to  advancing  the  interests  of  the  College. 

When  the  Board  met,  the  whole  matter  was  canvassed 
thoroughly  and  seriously.  Finally  the  following  pream- 
ble and  resolutions  were  adopted  with  but  little  opposi- 
tion: 

"Whereas,  New  and  commodious  buildings  must  soon 
be  afforded  to  Western  College,  and, 

149 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

"Whereas,  It  is  the  judgment  of  the  friends  of  the 
school  that  the  usefulness  of  Western  College  to  the 
Church  would  be  greatly  augmented  by  its  relocation  at  a 
point  where  it  can  enjoy  better  the  advantages  of  modern 
equipment  and  railroad  communication,  and, 

"Whereas,  It  is  the  duty  of  the  Trustees  of  said  Col- 
lege to  do  the  best  in  their  power  for  the  educational 
trust  committed  to  their  charge  by  the  Church ;  therefore, 

"Resolved,  That  we  recommend  the  appointment  of  a 
committee  of  three  persons,  which  committee  shall  be 
instructed  to  secure  grounds  and  subscriptions  condi- 
tionally at  two  or  three  or  more  towns  or  cities  in  the 
State  of  Iowa,  to  the  end  that  the  town  or  city  guaran- 
teeing the  most  help,  with  all  advantages  considered,  shall 
receive  said  College,  subject  to  the  ratification  of  the 
proper  authorities. 

"That  said  committee  shall  report  the  result  of  its 
work  to  the  president  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  at  the 
earliest  practical  day,  who  may  thereupon  call  immediately 
an  extra  session  of  said  Board,  and  the  said  Board  may 
then  determine  upon  the  future  location  of  said  College." 

The  Committee  on  Relocation,  appointed  according  to 
the  above  resolution,  consisted  of  M.  S.  Drury,  W.  J. 
Ham,  and  Daniel  Runkle. 

It  may  not  be  amiss  here  to  present  a  summary  of  the 
causes  that  led,  after  so  long  deliberation,  to  the  final 
decision  to  change  the  location  of  the  College. 

The  cause  universally  admitted  as  most  potent  was  the 
unfavorable  location.  The  site  at  Western  had  been 
chosen,  in  the  first  place,  because  a  larger  donation  was 
offered  there  than  elsewhere ;  perhaps  also  the  founders 
were  influenced  by  the  common  mistake  of  their  day  that 
a  sequestered  spot  offered  the  proper  environment  for  a 

150 


Agitation  for  Relocation 

college.  The  site  was  nearly  halfway  between  Iowa 
City  on  the  south  and  Cedar  Rapids  on  the  north,  both 
already  growing  young  cities,  to  which  railroads  were 
either  already  built  or  were  sure  to  be  built  soon.  It  was 
hoped  that  a  north  and  south  line  connecting  these  two 
cities  would  soon  be  built,  and  would  pass  through 
Western.  How  these  hopes  seemed  on  the  very  eve  of 
fulfillment,  and  how,  when  the  road  was  finally  built, 
Western  was  left  three  miles  from  the  nearest  station, 
has  already  been  told  in  these  pages.  Later,  desperate 
and  repeated  efforts  were  put  forth  to  secure  a  road — 
efforts  that  sometimes  raised  high  hopes,  in  the  end  to  be 
dashed  again  to  the  ground.  Finally,  in  1879,  an  article 
in  the  Western  Light,  headed  "Shall  We  Have  a  Rail- 
road ?  Western's  Last  Chance,"  voiced  the  general  feel- 
ing. This  hope  also  failed — the  hope  oft  deferred  that 
made  the  heart  sick. 

Another  unfavorable  element  in  the  matter  of  location, 
but  one  that  could  not  have  been  foreseen  when  the 
College  was  established,  was  the  coming  of  a  Bohemian 
colony  that  spread  until  it  possessed  practically  all  the 
farming  region  round  about  the  College.  These  were 
industrious,  intelligent  people,  not  averse  to  education,  but 
with  deeply  ingrained  social  and  religious  customs  and 
traditions  utterly  foreign  to  the  ideals  for  which  the  Col- 
lege stood.  So  far  as  they  had  a  leaning  toward  any  par- 
ticular type  of  school,  their  preference  was  rather  for  the 
institutions  conducted  by  the  State.  Of  the  Church, 
under  whose  auspices  Western  College  was  conducted, 
they  knew  little  and  naturally  felt  but  slight  obligation  to 
support  any  of  its  institutions.  While  not  necessarily 
constituting  a  hostile  environment,  their  presence  pre- 
cluded the  fulfillment  of  the  dream  entertained  by  the 

151 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

founders  of  the  College,  the  dream  of  a  great  community 
in  all  the  region  round  about  composed  of  families  at- 
tached to  the  College  by  generations  of  church  tradition? 
and  personal  experiences,  and  kept  in  devotion  to  it 
through  the  warm  sympathy  of  sons  and  daughters  pass- 
ing to  and  from  its  halls. 

Still  a  third  unfavorable  consideration  was  the  close 
proximity  of  the  State  University  a  few  miles  to  the 
south  and  of  Cornell  College  a  few  miles  to  the  east.  In 
point  of  early  start  and  first  prestige,  Western  had  en- 
joyed an  advantage  over  both  of  these,  but  lost  it  through 
the  depressing  period  of  the  Civil  War  and  the  severe 
financial  embarrassments  that  followed.  Now  the  Col- 
lege was  no  longer  able  to  compete  successfully  with  the 
institutions  in  the  same  territory.  The  immediate  cause, 
however,  of  the  decision  was  the  state  of  affairs  pertain- 
ing to  the  College  at  Western,  a  state  made  up  partly  of 
physical,  partly  of  psychological  conditions.  The  College 
buildings  were  wholly  unsuitable  and  rapidly  becoming 
more  unfit ;  it  was  evident  that  new  buildings  must  soon 
be  erected  at  great  expense.  The  friends  of  the  College 
were  already  discouraged  because  of  the  excessive  em- 
barrassments that  seemed  to  be  piling  upon  it.  The 
Church  had  become  despondent  and  almost  hopeless  over 
the  outlook.  In  such  a  mood  neither  an  individual  nor  a 
larger  social  mass  has  the  heart  for  great  undertakings  : 
belief  in  failure  perpetuates  failure ;  abiding  faith  in  suc- 
cess invites  success.  As  is  the  case  with  the  individual, 
so,  too,  the  public  mind,  laboring  under  the  sense  of  fail- 
ure in  a  given  place,  feels  that  a  fresh  start  in  a  new 
place  would  inspire  new  hope  and  courage.  That  psy- 
chological condition  was  one  of  the  potent  reasons  why  a 
change  of  location  for  Western  College  was  needed. 

152 


Agitation  for  Relocation 

While  the  committee  appointed  for  that  purpose  was 
seeking  a  new  location,  the  question  of  the  propriety  of 
the  move  was  thoroughly  ventilated.  It  was  still  possible 
for  the  friends  of  the  College  to  retain  it  there  if  they 
could  secure  larger  donations  for  that  place  than  other 
localities  would  offer.  Discussion  was  heated  and  often 
acrimonious.  Such  moves  as  the  one  proposed  necessa- 
rily entail  painful  consequences  and  often  set  brother 
against  brother  in  unseemly  strife,  and  fill  history  with  a 
few  unpleasant  pages  that  the  later  historian  would  gladly 
pass  over  in  silence.  The  Trustees  were  accused  of  put- 
ting the  College  up  at  auction,  making  of  it  a  thing  of 
merchandise,  and  peddling  it  about  the  country  seeking 
the  highest  bidder.  The  motives  of  good  Father  Drury 
and  others,  most  active  in  favor  of  relocation,  were  im- 
pugned, and  many  unkind  things  were  said  and  felt.  The 
situation  itself  made  inevitable  much  personal  loss  and 
many  heart  burnings  that  only  time  can  cure. 

Of  the  localities  competing  for  the  College,  Toledo 
soon  took  the  lead.  Lisbon  had  long  sought  to  bring  the 
school  to  that  place,  and  was  able  to  offer  a  strong  local 
support,  but  was  open  to  the  fatal  objection  of  being 
within  walking  distance  of  Cornell  College,  already  well 
established  and  prospering.  Marion  made  several  efforts 
to  work  up  sentiment  in  favor  of  offering  inducements  at 
that  place,  but  seemed  unable  to  enlist  the  general  com- 
munity very  deeply.  Cedar  Rapids,  Clarence,  Wilton 
Junction,  Muscatine,  Independence,  West  Liberty,  and 
Toledo  were  all  considered  by  the  committee.  Conditions 
at  Toledo  were  such  as  to  incline  her  citizens  favorably 
toward  inviting  the  College.  A  beautiful  county-seat 
town  of  much  wealth  and  culture,  with  little  prospect  of 
building   up   large   mercantile   or   manufacturing  enter- 

153 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

prises,  she  needed  something  to  give  her  distinction,  and 
the  College  seemed  to  offer  the  thing  needed.  Besides, 
Mr.  E.  C.  Ebersole  and  Mrs.  Emily  Dillman,  among  the 
early  teachers  of  the  College,  had  long  been  highly  es- 
teemed and  influential  citizens  of  Toledo,  and  they  natur- 
ally cast  their  influence  in  favor  of  securing  the  College. 
Under  their  leadership,  warmly  seconded  by  other  citi- 
zens, mass  meetings  were  held,  committees  appointed,  and 
the  community  canvassed.  In  due  time  a  substantial 
subscription  was  secured,  and  Mr.  E.  C.  Ebersole  and 
Mr.  J.  B.  Hedge  were  delegated  to  carry  the  proposition 
to  the  authorities  at  Western. 

An  extra  session  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  met  at 
Western,  December  29,  1880,  to  hear  the  report  of  the 
Committee  on  Relocation.  As  a  matter  of  preliminary 
information,  M.  S.  Drury,  general  agent,  reported  that 
the  conferences  cooperating  in  the  support  of  Western 
College  had  passed  resolutions  at  their  last  sessions  author- 
izing the  Board  of  Trustees  to  remove  the  College.  When 
propositions  concerning  relocation  were  called  for,  the 
following  was  presented  by  the  duly  appointed  committee : 

"To  M.  S.  Drury,  W.  J.  Ham,  and  D.  Runkle,  Com- 
mittee on  the  Relocating  of  Western  College : 

"We,  the  undersigned,  a  committee  appointed  by  the 
people  of  the  town  of  Toledo,  Tama  County,  Iowa,  have 
in  our  possession  subscriptions  of  the  people  of  said  town 
and  vicinity  to  the  amount  of  about  $20,194,  which  we 
are  authorized  to  present  to  the  Board  of  Trustees  of 
said  College  upon  the  condition  that  said  College  be  per- 
manently located  at  said  Toledo  by  the  first  day  of  Janu- 
ary, 1881,  the  money  collected  on  said  subscriptions  to  be 

154 


Agitation  for  Relocation 

used  in  erecting  suitable  buildings   for  said  College  at 
said  Toledo. 

"Western,  Iowa,  December  29,  1880. 

"E.  C.  Ebersole, 
"Jas  B.  Hedge, 

"Committee." 

The  proposition  of  Toledo  was  accepted  by  a  vote  of 
eight  yeas  to  one  nay,  and  steps  were  taken  looking  toward 
the  removal  of  the  College  and  its  belongings  to  Toledo 
the  following  summer.  A  building  committee,  consisting 
of  M.  S.  Drury,  D.  Runkle,  Maj.  L.  Clark,  Hon.  W.  F. 
Johnson,  and  E.  C.  Ebersole,  was  appointed  to  proceed 
with  the  erection  of  a  College  building  at  Toledo.  An- 
other committee  was  appointed  to  dispose  of  the  College 
property  at  Western. 

The  change  of  location  now  being  officially  settled,  it 
remained  to  complete  the  present  school  year,  wind  up  the 
affairs  of  the  College  at  its  old  location,  and  transfer  the 
institution  to  its  new  seat. 

The  consummation  devoutly  to  be  wished  in  closing  up 
the  College  business  before  removal  was  the  canceling  of 
the  old  debt  in  order  to  start  in  the  new  home  with  ac- 
counts balanced ;  the  debt  now  amounted,  in  round  num- 
bers, to  $25,000.  Financial  Agent  M.  S.  Drury  had  been 
working  zealously  for  a  number  of  years  to  reduce  the 
debt,  and  the  Board  finally  ordered  an  attempt  to  cover 
the  whole  amount  by  cash  subscriptions  and  notes  by 
June  25,  1881 ;  donations  were  solicited  on  condition  that 
the  whole  amount  be  provided  for  within  the  time  speci- 
fied. At  the  Board  meeting,  June,  1880,  the  general  agent 
reported  $4,800  in  such  conditional  pledges.  With  a  view 
to  making  a  united  assault  upon  the  debt  the  coming  year, 

155 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

L.  H.  Bufkin,  J.  W.  Smith,  and  later  D.  Miller  were 
appointed  soliciting  agents  to  assist  in  the  campaign.  So 
vigorous  was  the  work  of  these  men  and  of  the  general 
agent  that  the  report  of  the  Board,  June  18,  1881,  showed 
$20,184,  including  $4,500  from  the  sale  of  lands  belonging 
to  the  College,  and  a  smaller  amount  collected  on  old 
notes.  Here  we  may  quote,  from  a  personal  letter  of 
L.  H.  Bufkin,  his  experience  being  typical  of  what  col- 
lege agents  encounter. 

"At  the  meeting  of  the  Board,  June,  1880,  I  was  elected 
soliciting  agent,  or  field  secretary.  At  that  time  there  was 
a  debt  of  $25,000  against  the  College,  and  it  was  my  duty 
with  the  aid  of  the  general  agent  to  raise  that  amount  by 
solicitation.  The  plan  adopted  was  to  take  notes  payable 
upon  the  condition  that  the  whole  amount  be  secured  on 
or  before  the  twenty-fifth  day  of  June,  1881.  I  started 
out  with  the  full  expectation  of  success,  but  met  with 
many  discouraging  failures  where  I  had  entertained  the 
brightest  hopes  of  success.  On  one  occasion  a  wealthy 
and  influential  member  of  the  Church  listened  to  my  story 
with  apparent  interest,  and  when  I  had  finished  he  calmly 
informed  me  that  he  would  not  give  anything,  because 
when  passing  the  window  of  his  parlor  one  day  he  dis- 
covered one  minister  kissing  another  minister's  wife. 
Upon  another  occasion  I  visited  the  home  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Thomas  Hahn,  in  Fremont  County,  Iowa,  and  talked 
with  them  of  Church  and  College  affairs  until  midnight 
without  apparent  effect,  and  went  to  bed  with  a  sad  heart, 
for  he  was  also  wealthy  and  usually  a  generous  giver. 
The  next  morning  I  was  called  to  breakfast  at  an  early 
hour,  and  going  down  stairs,  feeling  as  forlorn  as  imag- 
ination could  possibly  paint,  I  was  greeted  by  the  host 

156 


Agitation  for  Relocation 

and  hostess  with  beaming  smiles,  and  at  the  breakfast 
table  Mr.  Hahn  informed  me  that  his  wife  had  dreamed 
in  the  night  that  they  had  given  the  College  a  thousand 
dollars  and  woke  up  shouting  happy,  and  after  talking 
the  matter  over  they  had  concluded  to  make  the  dream 
come  to  pass.  That  was  breakfast  enough  for  me,  so 
I  filled  out  a  note  for  $1,000,  payable  in  one  year,  and 
they  both  signed  it.  Time  flew  rapidly,  and  so  did  I 
from  place  to  place,  sometimes  by  rail,  sometimes  on  foot, 
absent  from  home  as  long  as  six  weeks  at  a  time,  until 
the  first  day  of  July,  1881,  when,  just  before  midnight, 
the  $25,000  fund  was  completed,  the  last  few  hundred 
dollars  being  made  up  by  friends  in  Western  who  had 
already  contributed  liberally." 

As  soon  as  it  was  ascertained  that  the  whole  amount 
had  been  raised  within  the  specified  time,  the  secretary 
of  the  Board,  Rev.  T.  D.  Adams,  in  accordance  with  the 
previous  instructions  from  that  body,  proclaimed  that,  the 
conditions  on  which  the  notes  had  been  obtained  having 
been  met,  the  obligations  therein  stated  were  now  in  full 
force. 

During  the  summer  the  College  and  its  portable  effects 
and  its  officers  were  moved  from  Western  to  Toledo. 
Several  other  families  not  now  officially  connected  with 
the  College,  including  Bishop  Kephart  and  his  family, 
also  removed  to  Toledo  to  assist  in  starting  the  new  insti- 
tution. Others,  either  not  choosing  or  unable  to  go, 
stayed  behind  with  aching  hearts  amid  the  quiet  and  lone- 
someness  of  the  deserted  place. 

One  who  wandered  back  in  the  late  autumn  has  left 
this  record: 

157 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

"Not  long  since  I  passed  a  night  in  Western  once  more, 
where  I  had  spent  the  happiest  years  of  my  life.  By 
some  impulse  I  was  led  to  stroll  into  the  campus  of  old 
Western  College,  and  as  I  was  slowly  threading  my  way 
along  the  beautiful  avenue  leading  from  the  chapel, 
around  which  gathers  so  many  precious  memories,  to 
Lane  Hall,  a  feeling  of  lonesomeness  stole  over  me  such 
as  I  had  never  experienced  before;  memories  of  the  past 
rushed  through  my  brain  like  a  sweeping  current.  I 
thought  of  the  first  time  of  visiting  these  grounds,  before 
the  hand  of  man  had  marred  the  face  of  nature.  I 
seemed  to  see  the  sturdy  workmen  gather  there  with  pick 
and  spade  and  commence  the  work  of  excavation  for  the 
first  building;  the  formal  opening  of  the  new  college  on 
the  wild  prairie;  the  first  term  of  school,  followed  by 
more  than  three  score  and  ten  sessions  without  interrup- 
tion ;  the  first  commencement  day,  with  its  annual  return 
with  increasing  interest  and  pleasure  to  the  last.  The 
first  graduate,  with  the  number  of  classes  of  interesting 
young  ladies  and  gentlemen  that  followed  as  the  years 
sped  by;  the  seasons  of  grace  enjoyed  under  the  preaching 
of  the  Word  in  the  chapel ;  and  the  sweet  fellowship  in 
the  social  gatherings.  I  thought  of  those  earnest  men  of 
God,  who  selected  this  spot,  and  retired  from  all  that 
would  distract  or  allure  to  vice,  as  a  suitable  place  to 
build  a  college,  and  of  the  men  who  gathered  around  the 
infant  school  with  their  families  to  give  it  support,  some 
of  whom  are  now  in  heaven,  while  some  are  waiting  on 
the  near  shore  for  the  boatman  to  carry  them  over.  I 
remembered  that  here  once  was  located  one  among  the 
best  United  Brethren  societies  in  the  Church,  and  that 
here  once  the  General  Conference  met  in  quadrennial 
session.      But  oh,  how  changed !      My  grief  was  over- 

158 


Agitation  for  Relocation 

whelming  when  I  rose  from  my  revery,  for  I  had  been 
sitting  about  midway  between  the  buildings,  and  turned 
my  eyes  involuntarily  first  to  the  chapel  and  then  to  the 
hall,  to  be  met  with  black  darkness  where  I  was  wont  to 
see  lights  dancing  in  every  window,  for  I  seemed  to  have 
forgotten  for  the  moment  that  the  school  had  been  moved 
from  these  consecrated  grounds  to  another  place." 

The  village  of  Western  still  retains  its  name  and  a  mere 
place  on  the  map,  but  is  practically  deserted,  and  so  far 
as  the  College  and  its  associations  are  concerned,  the 
place  is  the  most  desolate  and  forsaken  of  all  objects — a 
last  year's  bird's  nest  in  the  bleak  chill  of  a  January  thaw. 
The  remnants  of  the  College  building  have  fallen  to  decay, 
or  have  been  desecrated  to  alien  uses.  The  place  is 
haunted  only  by  the  shadowy  forms  of  other  days.  The 
halls  where  the  young  men  held  debates  either  are  not, 
or  preserve  the  silence  of  the  grave ;  the  hurrying  step,  the 
ringing  voice,  the  merry  laugh,  the  swelling  song,  and 
the  solemn  prayer  are  heard  no  more ;  the  scenes  of  daily 
victory  or  defeat,  of  genial  comradeships  and  tender 
whisperings  of  young  love  are  gone  with  the  ghosts  of 
forgotten  joys.  To  one  returning  after  the  lapse  of 
years  to  these  scenes  of  his  ardent  youth,  the  sadness  is 
almost  more  than  heart  can  bear ;  it  is  akin  to  the  experi- 
ence of  one  returning  after  thirty  years  to  his  childhood 
home.  With  quickening  heart  beats  he  approaches  the 
spot,  half  cheated  by  the  delusive  hope  that  he  is  to  taste 
again  boyhood's  keen  thrill  of  pleasure.  The  first  sight 
of  the  spot  dispels  his  momentary  illusion  and  fills  him 
with  a  sadness  indescribable,  yet  tender  and  half  sweet. 
The  house  where  he  was  born  is  forsaken  and  in  ruins, 
haunted  by  the  little  creatures  that  love  the  solitude,  and 
by  the  memories  of  past  associations.     He  approaches  the 

159 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

door,  but  no  father  and  mother  come  forth  with  benedic- 
tions of  joyful  welcome.  He  listens  in  vain  for  the 
kindred  voices  that  used  to  summon  him  to  childish  play. 
He  visits  the  spring  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  and  tries  to 
renew  his  youth  by  a  taste  of  its  sparkling  water,  but  this 
somehow  has  lost  its  power  to  ravish  the  palate  with 
delight.  As  a  last  forlorn  hope,  he  crosses  the  meadow 
and  loiters  along  the  creek  where  as  a  boy  with  dog  and 
gun,  or  hook  and  line,  he  so  often  experienced  ecstasies 
of  palpitating  expectancy.  But  all  in  vain ;  the  charm 
has  fled,  the  spell  has  been  broken.  Somewhat  is  due  to 
lost  power  to  see  and  feel  as  in  the  sentient  days  of  youth ; 
somewhat  more  to  human  associations  now  gone  beyond 
recall. 

Oh,  Western,  lovely  wild  rose  on  the  bosom  of  the 
prairie,  "these  were  thy  charms,  but  all  these  charms 
are  fled." 


160 


Chapter  IX. 

REORGANIZATION  OF  FACULTY.  OPENING  OF  SCHOOL 
AT  TOLEDO  FINANCIAL  AFFAIRS.  M.  S.  DRURY.  L.  H. 
BUFKIN.  TEACHERS  AND  STUDENTS.  PRESIDENT 
BEARDSHEAR. 

Coincident  with  the  removal  of  the  College  to  Toledo, 
it  was  found  necessary  to  reorganize  the  faculty  and 
rearrange  departments.  The  Ladies'  Department  was 
abandoned,  the  Department  of  History  was  given  sepa- 
rate existence,  and  the  Department  of  Modern  Languages 
was  created,  though  not  filled  until  later.  But  two  of  the 
teachers  at  Western  entered  the  actual  work  at  Toledo — 
Miss  Anna  Shuey,  who  had  most  acceptably  filled  the 
principalship  of  the  Ladies'  Department,  now  transferred 
to  the  chair  of  mathematics  for  four  years  more  of  ex- 
cellent service,  later  known  as  Mrs.  R.  L.  Swain,  a  noble 
woman  of  most  wholesome  influence;  and  Mr.  T.  H. 
Studebaker,  teacher  of  bookkeeping,  continued  in  the 
same  position.  Professor  J.  W.  Robertson,  teacher  of 
Latin  and  Greek,  was  reelected,  and  moved  to  Toledo, 
but  late  in  the  autumn  was  compelled  to  go  west  in  a 
vain  search  for  health. 

The  promotion  of  President  Kephart  by  the  General 
Conference  in  May,  made  it  necessary  to  seek  another  to 
take  the  leadership  in  the  affairs  of  the  College.  The 
Board,  in  June,  called  to  the  presidency  a  stalwart  young 
scholar  and  rising  preacher,  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Miller  Beardshear ;  the  choice  proved  most  fortunate. 
President  Beardshear,  six  feet  three,  broad  shouldered 
and  rugged  of  limb,  a  dynamo  of  mental  and  spiritual 
energy,-  was  just  ripening  toward  his  prime  and  spread 

161 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

the  wholesome  contagion  of  his  own  expanding  person- 
ality and  power  into  the  life  of  the  College.  He  re- 
mained with  the  school  eight  years,  and  then  passed  on  to 
larger  work,  finally  to  find  his  true  work  as  head  of  the 
great  Iowa  College  of  Agriculture  and  Mechanic  Arts. 

As  Professor  of  Natural  Science,  the  Board  at  the  same 
session  selected  Albert  Milton  Beal,  already  so  well  and 
favorably  known  in  college  circles  as  a  student  from  the 
beginning  of  the  preparatory  department  to  the  end  of  the 
classical  course,  and  later  as  a  trustee  representing  the 
Alumni  Association.  He  was  called  from  the  law  firm 
of  Beal  and  Ham,  at  Tama,  Iowa ;  he  remained  as  science 
professor  ten  years  and  as  president  one  year.  Later  he 
took  up  the  practice  of  medicine,  a  profession  for  which 
he  was  peculiarly  well  adapted  both  by  nature  and  by 
training.  Professor  Beal  was  an  enthusiastic  scientist,  a 
man  of  warm  sympathies,  genial  personality,  and  purity 
of  character,  one  of  those  sweeter  souls  whose  influence 
remains  among  the  treasured  legacies  of  the  College. 

When  Professor  Robertson  was  compelled  to  lay  down 
his  work  as  teacher  of  Ancient  Languages,  a  successor 
was  found  in  the  person  of  Rev.  James  A.  Weller,  of 
Ohio,  a  graduate  of  Otterbein  University.  Professor 
Weller  not  only  gave  himself  enthusiastically  to  building 
up  the  Department  of  Ancient  Languages,  but  also  estab- 
lished the  Department  of  Elocution  in  the  College.  He 
held  his  position  in  the  College  for  six  years,  and  then 
became  president  of  Lane  University,  and  later  of  Central 
College. 

Urias  D.  Runkle,  a  graduate  of  Western,  class  of  '77, 
was  selected  as  Professor  of  History  and  teacher  of  Pen- 
manship, a  position  he  filled  for  two  years,  and  then  went 
again  to  public  school  work. 

162 


Reorganisation  of  Faculty 

John  L.  Drury,  class  of  '81,  was  teacher  of  the  begin- 
ning branches  for  one  year. 

The  other  teachers  for  the  first  year  at  Toledo  were: 
Emma  J.  Howard,  teacher  of  drawing  and  painting; 
Richard  L.  Swain,  teacher  of  vocal  music;  and  Mrs.  A.  G. 
Smith,  teacher  of  instrumental  music. 

During  the  summer  of  1881  preparations  were  pushed 
forward  as  vigorously  as  possible  for  the  opening  of 
school  in  the  fall.  Gangs  of  workmen  were  busy  exca- 
vating for  the  large  new  College  building ;  later  with  lay- 
ing the  foundation.  Processions  of  teams  passed  through 
town  to  the  College  grounds  on  the  south,  bearing  stone 
for  the  foundation  and  brick  for  the  walls.  College  peo- 
ple were  collecting  at  Toledo — renting  property,  purchas- 
ing homes,  or  building  new  ones.  From  Western,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  teachers  and  Bishop  Kephart  previously  men- 
tioned, came  J.  M.  Horn  and  Sam  Richardson,  who 
became  hosts  of  the  Toledo  House,  Ralph  Statto,  who 
came  a  little  later,  and  Financial  Agent  M.  S.  Drury,  who 
at  once  invested  in  town  property  and  next  year  built  a 
new  home  much  larger  than  his  own  needs  demanded,  and 
did  so  to  show  that  the  College  enterprise  had  financial 
backing  and  was  ready  to  take  its  share  of  social  ceremo- 
nies. President  Beardshear  and  Bishop  Kephart  started 
at  once  the  building  of  new  homes,  both  constructed  with 
a  view  to  the  needs  of  the  College  community.  Agent 
Bufkin  and  other  friends  of  the  College  came  and  estab- 
lished themselves  in  Toledo. 

As  it  was  impossible  to  have  the  new  building  ready 
for  the  opening  of  the  school  year,  the  public  school  build- 
ing, recently  vacated  by  the  transfer  to  the  large  new  high 
school  building,  was  secured  for  college  purposes.  In 
this  classes  were  held  for  the  first  two  years ;  public  exer- 

163 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

cises  were  held  either  in  the  United  Brethren  Church  or 
in  the  courthouse. 

Formal  opening  exercises  were  held  in  the  United 
Brethren  Church  before  an  audience  that  packed  the 
house.  W.  F.  Johnston  spoke  for  the  citizens  and  wel- 
comed the  College  and  its  students  to  the  community. 
President  Beardshear  responded  for  the  College,  as  only 
he  could  do.  The  ceremonies  over,  the  College  took  up 
the  regular  work  of  the  first  year  in  its  new  home.  Lect- 
ures, public  rhetoricals,  and  an  oratorical  contest  varied 
the  routine  of  daily  work.  The  oratorical  contest  was 
won  by  Miss  Emma  J.  Howard ;  later  she  took  sixth 
place  in  the  State  contest  in  Iowa  City.  The  public 
rhetoricals  soon  became  so  popular  that  they  were  taken 
to  the  large  room  in  the  courthouse  in  order  to  accom- 
modate all  who  wanted  to  hear  them. 

College  opened  at  Toledo  with  an  enrollment  of  about 
eighty,  increased  by  the  end  of  the  year  to  one  hundred 
and  ninety-six.  The  number  jumped  to  two  hundred  and 
thirty  the  following  year,  and  then  increased  more  gradu- 
ally until  it  passed  the  four  hundred  mark  at  the  end  of 
President  Beardshear's  term  of  office.  All  this  time  the 
internal  life  of  the  school  was  vigorous  and  expanding, 
due  in  a  great  measure  to  the  large  vision  and  stimulating 
personality  of  President  Beardshear,  and  to  the  large 
mould  of  the  men  who  supported  him  in  the  faculty  and 
on  the  administrative  boards. 

Old  departments  were  enlarged  and  new  ones  organ- 
ized. The  Chair  of  English  Literature  and  Rhetoric  was 
filled  and  that  of  Modern  Language  given  more  promin- 
ence. The  old  courses  in  bookkeeping  were  now  organ- 
ized into  a  distinct  Commercial  Department  with  a  capa- 
ble principal  devoting  his  whole  time  to  it ;  the  department 

164 


Reorganisation  of  Faculty 

was  soon  full  to  overflowing.  The  Music  Department 
was  given  a  new  and  separate  organization  as  the  John 
C.  Bright  Conservatory  of  Music.  A  superior  director 
was  placed  at  the  head  with  a  competent  corps  of  in- 
structors, and  soon  the  Conservatory  was  flourishing  and 
adding  both  numbers  and  popularity  to  the  College.  A 
Department  of  Elocution  was  in  the  process  of  growth 
and  the  Department  of  Art  was  taking  on  larger  propor- 
tions. The  College  was  rapidly  gaining  standing  among 
the  colleges  of  the  State,  and  gaining  in  favor  with  the 
people. 

As  a  large  part  of  the  history  of  the  period  has  to  do 
with  material  things,  particularly  with  matters  of  finance, 
it  will  be  advisable  to  give  considerable  attention  to  such 
things. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  at  the  close  of  its  stay  at 
Western  the  College  owed,  in  round  numbers,  $25,000, 
consisting  about  equally  of  accumulated  deficits  in  the 
salaries  of  the  teachers  and  agents,  and  of  borrowed 
money,  and  that  notes  and  pledges  covering  the  entire 
amount  were  secured  by  June  25,  1881.  Most  of  the 
pledges  then  given  were  finally  paid,  but  some  were  not, 
and  those  amounts  came  up  ultimately  to  add  to  the  grow- 
ing burden  at  Toledo. 

The  first  great  item  of  expense  at  Toledo  was,  of 
course,  the  providing  of  buildings  and  grounds,  and  the 
second  was  the  necessary  deficits  in  starting  so  large  an 
enterprise  on  new  soil  with  resources  not  yet  worked  up 
to  their  full  productivity.  The  building  planned  was 
estimated  to  cost  $40,000.  As  the  people  of  Toledo 
pledged  and  paid  half  of  that  amount,  the  authorities  of 
the  College  must  provide  a  like  amount  while  the  build- 
ing was  in  process  of  erection.      This  they  attempted  to 

165 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

do,  but  at  the  end  of  the  two  years  and  more  required 
to  complete  the  work,  it  was  found  that  the  building, 
the  furnishings,  and  the  grading  of  grounds  brought  the 
cost  up  to  $50,000,  and  that  all  the  pledges  taken  for  that 
purpose  fell  $15,000  short  of  the  required  amount.  That 
amount  and  the  shrinkage  on  pledges  already  taken 
formed  the  nucleus  for  the  enormous  debt  that  later  piled 
upon  the  back  of  the  College.  In  the  matter  of  current 
expenses,  it  was  soon  found  that  the  difference  between 
the  regular  incomes  for  that  purpose  and  the  necessary 
outlay  amounted  to  about  two  thousand  dollars  a  year. 
It  was  also  found  that  the  difference  between  the  interest 
on  the  obligations  of  the  College  and  that  paid  on  pledges 
— borrowed  money  exacts  interest  to  the  full,  while  dona- 
tions pay  very  little — amounted  to  nearly  as  much  more. 
Hence  another  source  of  increasing  debt. 

The  men  charged  with  the  responsibility  of  directing 
the  finances  of  the  College  at  this  complicated  period, 
hud  burdens  to  bear  that  the  world  may  never  know — 
their  days  were  full  of  pain,  their  nights  devoid  of  ease. 
The  ever-present  sense  of  burden  rested  naturally  with 
more  constancy  upon  General  Financial  Agent  M.  S. 
Drury  and  his  able  lieutenant,  Soliciting  Agent  L.  H.  Buf- 
kin,  than  upon  others.  Mr.  Drury,  especially,  put  himself 
heart  and  soul  and  property  under  the  load.  In  1883  he 
resigned  the  offices  of  financial  agent  and  treasurer,  and 
Mr.  Bufkin  succeeded  for  many  years  of  aggressive  work. 
Closely  identified  with  the  agents  was  the  president  of  the 
College,  whose  position  made  him,  on  the  one  hand, 
keenly  alive  to  the  great  things  that  needed  to  be  done 
in  order  to  give  the  College  prestige,  and,  on  the  other, 
to  the  harassments  of  finding  the  wherewithal  to  do  them. 

166 


Reorganization  of  Faculty 

In  the  beginning,  the  Building  Committee  previously 
named,  to  which  II.  S.  Thompson  and  Stephen  Stiger 
were  soon  added,  carried  a  great  share  of  the  business 
worries  incident  to  the  task  of  making  a  minimum  of 
resources  cover  a  maximum  of  material  and  workman- 
ship. And  both  at  the  beginning  and  all  the  time  the 
Executive  Committee  bore  the  brunt  of  all  plannings  and 
the  responsibility  of  final  decisions. 

The  first  Executive  Committee  at  Toledo  was  composed 
of  President  Beardshear,  by  virtue  of  his  office,  Dr.  E.  R. 
Smith,  W.  F.  Johnston,  E.  C.  Ebersole,  W.  J.  Ham,  and 
H.  S.  Thompson.  Doctor  Smith  and  Mr.  Johnston  have 
served  on  the  committee  continuously  from  that  day  to 
the  present,  thirty  years  of  time  and  thought  given  from 
pressing  personal  duties,  a  long  consecutive  official  service 
surpassed  only  by  Dr.  George  Miller's  thirty-six  years  as 
a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees.  E.  C.  Ebersole 
was  on  the  committee  for  twenty-one  years,  and  if  other 
official  and  semi-official  relations  to  the  College  should  be 
counted,  would  hold  the  palm  for  length  of  service. 
These  men,  with  S.  R.  Lichtenwalter,  who  has  been  but 
a  little  shorter  time  a  member  of  the  committee,  deserve  a 
very  high  place  on  the  roll  of  the  quiet  workers  in  behalf 
of  the  College. 

Of  the  Board  of  Trustees  many  names  appear  in  con- 
nection with  occasional  meetings,  several  in  connection 
with  a  few  annual  sessions,  and  a  few  names  occur  con- 
stantly throughout  the  period  under  consideration  with 
scarcely  an  absence  from  a  single  sitting.  George  Miller, 
President  of  the  Board  since  1881,  except  an  interval  of 
two  years,  undoubtedly  holds  the  honors  for  long  mem- 
bership and  uninterrupted  attendance ;  he  has  missed  but 
few  sittings  since  1875.      M.  S.  Drury,  a  member  for  a 

167 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

quarter  of  a  century,  was  always  at  his  post  and  took  the 
deepest  interest  in  all  deliberations.  Solomon  Lichten- 
walter  began  meeting  with  the  Board  in  1874,  and,  though 
not  quite  always  a  member,  has  seldom  missed  a  session 
since.  W.  I.  Reatty  began  attending  Board  meetings  in 
the  later  '70's,  first  as  an  interested  listener,  then  as  sec- 
retary, and  after  1884  as  a  duly-qualified  member.  From 
that  date  to  1905  a  session  of  the  Board  without  W.  I. 
Beatty  would  have  been  like  a  wedding  ceremony  from 
which  the  groomsman  was  accidentally  absent.  T.  D. 
Adams,  too,  was  long  a  member,  always  in  his  place, 
and  ever  active.  Others  not  quite  so  conspicuous  for 
term  of  office  or  frequent  attendance  were  equally  zeal- 
ous in  their  guardianship  of  the  school. 

During  the  latter  part  of  President  Beardshear's  ad- 
ministration, General  Agent  Bufkin's  time  was  taken  up 
largely  with  the  local  business  management,  and  the  field 
work  was  turned  over  to  soliciting  agents  L.  B.  Hix  and 
A.  M.  Leichliter  for  three  years,  and  to  H.  H.  Maynard 
and  M.  S.  Drury  for  two  years. 

One  of  the  first  special  financial  plans  adopted  by  the 
Beardshear  administration  was  a  formal  request  to  the 
conferences  cooperating  with  the  College  to  levy  an 
assessment  upon  their  members  sufficient  to  meet  the 
annual  deficit  in  the  current  expenses  of  the  College,  then 
amounting  to  about  $2,000  a  year.  The  conferences 
finally  accepted  the  plan,  and  included  Western  College 
among  the  items  on  the  regular  collection  sheet  each  year. 
The  plan  once  in  good  working  order  gave  the  College  a 
regular  source  of  income  equivalent  to  a  moderate  en- 
dowment. With  a  partial  interruption  immediately  after 
the  endowment  was  secured  in  1906,  the  conference  col- 
lections still  remain  as  a  helpful  yearly  income. 

168 


Reorganization  of  Faculty 

Another  plan  was  to  secure  $15,000  in  Tama  County  to 
endow  a  Chair  of  Natural  Science.  As  the  plan  was 
launched  soon  after  the  assassination  of  President  Gar- 
field the  proposed  fund  was  designated  as  the  Garfield 
Memorial  Fund,  and  the  chair  as  the  Tama  County  Chair 
of  Natural  Science.  J.  L.  Drury  was  made  a  special 
agent  to  solicit  for  this  fund,  and  spent  a  year  in  the 
county  securing  something  less  than  half  the  amount 
proposed.  The  regular  College  agents  worked  later 
toward  completing  the  fund. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Board,  in  June,  1883,  M.  S. 
Drury  proposed  to  give  $10,000  toward  an  endowment 
of  $50,000,  provided  the  College  secure  for  the  same 
purpose  $40,000  on  or  before  Commencement  Day,  1885. 
A  serious  effort  was  made  to  meet  this  condition,  the 
pledges  amounting  at  one  time  to  nearly  $30,000,  yet  the 
goal  could  not  quite  be  reached. 

In  a  supplement  to  his  report,  in  June,  1884,  the  treas- 
urer reveals  a  most  perplexing  situation,  one  so  typical 
of  what  the  authorities  had  to  face  many  times  within  the 
next  twenty  years  that  it  should  be  given  here: 

"At  the  meeting  of  the  Board  one  year  ago  the  debt  of 
the  College  was  about  the  same  that  it  is  now — in  round 
figures,  $48,000.  Within  three  months  from  that  time 
at  least  three-fourths  of  that  amount  was  due,  a  part  of 
which  was  paid,  and  arrangements  were  made  for  an 
extension  of  time  on  the  balance  for  one  year.  In  addi- 
tion to  this,  $5,000  was  borrowed  to  so  far  complete  the 
buildings  as  to  accommodate  the  College  with  recitation 
rooms,  lecture  room,  cabinet  room,  and  library  and  read- 
ing rooms. 

"Within  three  months  from  this  time  $40,000  of  our 
debt  will  be  due,  a  considerable  part  of  which  will  be 

169 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

peremptorily  demanded.  How  to  meet  this  is  the  per- 
plexing question  of  the  hour,  which  it  is  hoped  the  Board 
will  be  able  to  solve. 

''More  than  a  year  ago  efforts  were  made  to  borrow 
$20,000  at  a  low  rate  of  interest,  for  five  years,  by  giving 
a  mortgage  on  the  College  property  for  security.  When 
it  was  thought  that  the  money  was  found,  we  discovered 
that  our  articles  of  incorporation  were  imperfect,  and 
that  it  would  be  necessary,  in  order  to  effect  a  loan,  to 
draft  new  articles  of  incorporation,  present  them  to  all 
the  cooperating  conferences  for  their  approval,  and  then 
have  them  adopted  by  the  Board  in  regular  session.  To 
accomplish  this  would  require  more  than  a  year,  so  that 
our  opportunity  to  obtain  money  upon  this  plan  was  cut 
square  off.  The  articles  of  incorporation  have  now  been 
approved  by  all  the  cooperating  conferences,  and  the 
action  of  the  Board  is  all  that  is  necessary  to  give  us  a 
solid  footing  in  this  respect.  But  now  the  money  is  not 
to  be  found  in  the  hands  of  parties  willing  to  loan  such  a 
large  sum  to  an  institution  of  this  kind,  so  that  we  are  in 
as  bad  a  dilemma  as  before. 

"We  have  ransacked  Cedar  Rapids  and  Des  Moines 
and  have  tried  almost  every  loan  and  trust  company  in 
the  land  without  success. 

'If  it  is  universally  true  that  the  darkest  hour  is  just 
before  day,  it  is  evident  that  the  darkness  which  is  so 
thick  as  to  be  forcibly  felt  will  soon  give  way  to  the  dawn 
of  a  glorious  morning." 

The  first  years  at  Toledo  were  years  of  great  things, 
a  great  building,  great  and  growing  enthusiasm,  great 
financial  prospects,  and  a  great  debt.  The  College  was 
making  a  record,  was  building  for  future  expansion,  and 
so  felt  compelled  to  expend  beyond  its  present  incomes, 

170 


Reorganisation  of  Faculty 

trusting  to  the  delusive  future  for  payment.  That  the 
payment  should  be  long  delayed  and  should  come  only 
after  a  struggle,  severe  enough  to  wring  drops  of  blood 
from  the  hearts  of  those  who  were  forced  to  go  through 
it,  was  perhaps  inevitable,  but  veiled  from  present  ken 
by  the  mists  of  future  possibilities. 

If  it  is  true  that  the  history  of  a  nation  is  but  the 
lengthened  shadow  of  a  few  great  men,  it  is  doubly  true 
that  the  history  of  a  college  centers  in  successive  periods 
around  the  lives  of  a  few  men  who  at  that  time  have  given 
themselves  without  limit  to  advance  some  of  the  College's 
vital  interests.  Because  of  their  large  share  in  the  life 
of  the  College,  three  men — M.  S.  Drury,  L.  H.  Bufkin, 
and  W.  M.  Beardshear — deserve  fuller  and  more  per- 
sonal treatment  than  they  have  yet  received,  the  first 
two  for  their  close  connection  with  the  financial  interests 
of  the  school  and  the  last  for  his  contributions  to  the 
mental  and  spiritual  life  of  the  institution. 

REV.  M.  S.  DRURY. 

Morgan  Shortridge  Drury  was  of  Quaker  ancestry  on 
his  father's  side  and  of  Welch  lineage  and  strong  reli- 
gious tendencies  on  his  mother's.  He  grew  up  under  the 
severe  hardships  and  struggles  of  pioneer  life.  Though 
having  enjoyed  but  a  few  months  of  stimulating  school- 
ing, and  but  short  periods  of  schooling  of  any  kind,  he 
yet  came  to  appreciate  the  benefits  of  learning  most 
highly,  and  throughout  his  life  was  ready  to  do  anything 
within  his  power  to  give  the  blessing  of  education  to  all, 
especially  to  his  own  children.  Fully  convinced,  too,  that 
education  should  be  distinctly  Christian  in  tone,  he  natur- 
ally took  a  deep  interest  in  the  efforts  of  his  own  Church 
to  establish  schools  of  higher  learning.     Just  as  naturally, 

171 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

too,  he  became  enlisted  in  Western  College,  the  school  of 
the  Church  nearest  his  own  home. 

In  1854,  Mr.  Drury,  with  his  family,  then  consisting 
of  wife,  two  sons,  and  one  daughter,  left  his  boyhood 
home  in  Indiana  and  settled  in  Winnesheik  County,  Iowa, 
locating  on  land,  a  part  of  which  he  purchased  from  the 
Government.  Here  for  twenty-one  years  he  improved 
and  managed  successfully  an  excellent  farm,  thereby 
gathering  some  of  the  wealth  he  afterward  used  so  freely 
for  the  College. 

In  1855,  the  year  in  which  the  Iowa  Conference  made 
the  first  move  toward  establishing  the  College,  Mr.  Drury 
was  licensed  to  preach,  and  then  for  many  years  labored 
as  itinerant  preacher  and  as  presiding  elder,  still,  how- 
ever, retaining  the  management  of  his  farm  until  1875, 
at  which  time  he  removed  to  Western  in  order  to  be  near 
the  College. 

Mr.  Drury's  official  connection  with  the  College  began 
with  his  election  as  trustee  in  1865,  from  which  time  he 
served  the  school  in  one  capacity  or  another  for  about 
thirty  years,  much  of  the  time  as  solicitor,  general  agent, 
and  treasurer.  Much  of  his  official  life  has  already  been 
presented.  Some  of  his  best  service,  however,  was  un- 
official and  personal.  He  was  quick  to  see  the  possibili- 
ties wrapped  up  in  undeveloped  boys  and  girls,  and  was 
ever  on  the  alert  to  turn  such  toward  the  College.  Many 
times  he  himself  furnished  the  means  whereby  a  promis- 
ing young  man  was  started  on  a  career.  The  great  im- 
portance he  attached  to  education  is  seen  in  his  letting 
his  own  boys  leave  the  farm  at  fifteen  and  sixteen,  at  a 
time  when  the  farm  was  rapidly  making  money  and  the 
help  of  the  boys  was  greatly  needed.  At  one  time  all 
four  of  his  children  were  in  school. 

172 


Reorganisation  of  Faculty 

The  following  paragraphs  from  the  tribute  prepared  by 
the  Executive  Committee  of  the  College  and  read  at  Mr. 
Drury's  funeral  in  1902,  give  an  inner  glimpse  of  his 
devotion  to  the  school : 

"After  years  of  almost  fruitless  effort,  he  was  one  of 
the  first  to  conclude  that  the  College  could  not  reach 
ultimate  success  unless  it  was  removed  to  a  better  loca- 
tion, and,  when  so  convinced,  he  became  an  earnest  advo- 
cate of  its  removal,  and  no  one  person  was  more  influ- 
ential than  he  in  securing  its  removal  to  Toledo.  In  this 
he  incurred  the  life-long  enmity  of  property-holders  at  the 
original  site,  the  value  of  whose  property  was  dependent 
upon  the  College;  but  he  himself  cheerfully  sacrificed  his 
elegant  home  in  order  that  the  College  might  have  a  better 
location. 

"He  came  to  Toledo  with  the  College,  and  at  once 
began  to  purchase  and  improve  property ;  and  what  he 
did  in  this  way  proved  contagious,  and  gave  a  distinct 
impetus  to  the  improvement  and  beautifying  of  the  homes 
of  the  town.  He  built  a  new  home  for  himself,  much  in 
excess  of  his  needs,  and  gave  as  a  reason  that  there  was 
no  better  way  to  help  the  College  than  by  surrounding  it 
with  good  homes.  His  house  soon  became  the  scene  of 
many  elegant  entertainments,  whose  purpose  and  effect 
were  to  give  an  uplift  to  society  in  general,  and  especially 
to  introduce,  in  this  pleasant  way,  the  new-coming  College 
people  to  the  older  citizens  of  the  town.  The  delightful- 
ness  of  these  entertainments  must,  in  a  great  degree,  be 
placed  to  the  credit  of  his  wife,  who  was  in  entire  sym- 
pathy with  him  in  his  zeal  for  the  College. 

"The  financial  crises  through  which  the  College  passed 
while  Mr.  Drury  was  either  its  treasurer  or  its  financial 
agent  were  known  to  only  a  few.     He  knew  that  to  pub- 

173 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

lish  the  facts  would  mean  almost  certain  disaster,  and,  to 
meet  the  emergency,  he  more  than  once  pledged  his  entire 
fortune  (which  was  no  small  sum)  to  tide  the  College 
over  a  crisis.  In  the  end,  he  gave  practically  all  of  that 
fortune  to  the  College.  Had  he  retained  it,  and  devoted 
his  splendid  abilities  to  its  increase,  he  must  have  died  a 
rich  man,  leaving  a  magnificent  sum  for  distribution  to 
his  widow  and  children.  To  each  of  his  children  he  gave 
a  good  education  in  Western  College,  and,  by  virtue  of 
their  home  and  college  training,  they  have  gone  forth  in- 
fluential factors  for  good  in  the  moral,  social,  and  spirit- 
ual world.  Who  will  say  that,  with  such  equipment,  and 
with  the  just  pride  they  must  feel  in  the  noble  record  left 
by  their  parents  in  such  unselfish  devotion  to  a  good  cause, 
they  have  not  a  richer  legacy  than  wealth  can  give?" 

The  following  extracts  from  letters  written  to  his  son, 
Professor  A.  W.  Drury,  show  how  much  Mr.  Dairy's 
thought  and  interest  turned  toward  the  College  during  the 
last  months  and  weeks  of  his  life.  One  reads  also  be- 
tween the  lines  a  tender  appeal  to  the  children  to  judge 
charitably  a  devotion  that  led  the  father  to  lavish  his 
wealth  upon  a  public  benefaction  instead  of  reserving  it 
for  his  own  family. 

From  a  letter  written  from  Pasadena,  California,  to 
A.  W.  Drury,  March  12,  1902: 

"No  one,  dead  or  living,  gave  so  much  of  money,  time, 
and  mental  strain  as  I  did  to  save  the  College  to  the 
Church.  As  I  see  it  now,  no  one  else  likely  would  have 
gone  through  the  terrible  struggle  to  pay  off  the  old  debt 
and  then  meet  the  persecution  and  overcome  all  obstacles 
and  move  the  school.  To  do  this  and  then  furnish  the 
$5,000  cash  to  start  the  work  at  Toledo  before  any  of 
the  $20,000  subscription  given  could  be  collected  or  begun, 

174 


Reorganisation  of  Faculty 

was  more  than  any  other  man  would  have  done.  I  write 
these  facts  to  you  now,  as  I  feel  sure  that  you  will  not 
overestimate  or  underestimate  the  sacrifices  your  mother 
and  I  have  made  to  prevent  the  death  of  Western  College 
and  thus  save  the  Church  in  Iowa  and  bless  it  elsewhere. 
I  have  paid  in  money,  donated  in  salary,  and  sacrificed 
on  lands  for  the  College  more  than  any  one  else — $30,000 
being  too  small  an  estimate.  I  need  not  mention  the 
abuse  endured — as  it  is  past — and  the  extreme  hardships 
your  mother  endured  for  the  College  and  the  strain  that 
culminated  in  her  paralysis.  We  do  not  write  to  you 
these  things  in  a  complaining  way,  but  to  call  your  atten- 
tion to  them  as  a  matter  of  history.  We  are  glad  that 
the  school  has  survived  and  now  promises  much  to  the 
Church  and  to  humanity." 

From  a  letter  written  from  Pasadena,  California,  to 
A.  W.  Drury,  March  2,  1898 : 

"If  I  had  not  become  responsible  for  large  College 
debts  after  selling  the  farm  and  giving  my  attention  to 
the  ministry,  it  would  have  been  pleasant  and  perhaps 
better.  I  think,  however,  the  College  would  have  closed 
its  doors  at  Western  and  the  Toledo  school  would  not 
have  existed.  As  it  is,  however,  may  be  it  is  well,  but 
I  would  not  again  attempt  to  carry  a  burden  others  should 
have  borne." 

From  a  letter  written  from  Pasadena,  California,  to 
A.  W.  Drury,  September  4,  1902 : 

"Seventy-six  years  of  most  arduous  labors  have  passed 
and  now  the  future  is  bright  and  hopeful.  My  life  has 
not  been  what  could  have  been  desired,  but  under  a  merci- 
ful providence  and  good  surroundings  some  good  has 
been  done.     'The  Lord  is  my  Shepherd.'  " 

175 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

REV.  L.   H.  BUFKIN. 

Rev.  L.  H.  Bufkin,  a  member  of  Des  Moines  Confer- 
ence, became  identified  with  the  College  in  1879,  at  which 
time  his  conference  elected  him  as  a  trustee.  Soon  after 
he  was  elected  a  soliciting  agent,  in  which  capacity  he  was 
unusually  successful.  Then  for  thirteen  years  he  was 
closely  connected  with  the  finances  of  the  College,  most 
of  the  time  as  general  agent  and  treasurer.  Mr.  Bufkin 
was  an  indefatigable  worker,  fertile  in  resources,  full  of 
devices  for  surmounting  difficulties  and  capable  of  large 
faith  in  a  trying  situation.  He  has  already  told  of  his 
share  in  raising  the  old  debt  at  Western.  For  the  first 
two  years  at  Toledo  he  was  the  most  active  and  successful 
of  the  soliciting  agents.  Of  his  work  after  he  became 
general  financial  manager  the  reader  will  be  pleased  to 
learn  from  Mr.  Bufkin's  personal  narrative.  It  is  inter- 
esting to  learn  in  this  intimate  confidential  way  how  a 
college  agent  must  sometimes  chase  delusive  hopes  in 
order  to  avoid  missing  any  opportunity  to  obtain  sub- 
stantial results. 

"At  the  meeting  of  the  Board,  in  June,  1883,  Rev.  M.  S. 
Drury,  who  had,  for  many  years,  been  the  financial  man- 
ager, feeling  the  burden  too  heavy  for  him  longer  to 
carry,  retired  from  the  office  and  I  was  elected  to  the 
position  of  general  manager  and  treasurer.  This  created 
some  uneasiness  upon  the  part  of  the  creditors,  and  some 
predicted  a  crisis  which  would  be  disastrous  to  the  Col- 
lege. A  few  days  after  I  had  assumed  the  duties  of  the 
office,  I  met  a  man  on  the  street  of  Toledo  of  whom  the 
College  had  borrowed  $8,000.  He  informed  me  very 
positively  that  he  wanted  his  money.  I  knew  that  he 
did  not  need  the  money  and  would  not  know  what  to  do 
with  it  if  he  had  it,  but  I  asked  how  soon  he  wanted  it. 

176 


REV.  LEWIS  BOOKWALTER,  D.D. 

President  of  Western  College  1894  to  1904,  including  the  Great  Debt-raising  Campaign, 

Member  of  the  Faculty  sixteen  years. 


JOHN  DODDS 
The  constant  friend  of  the  College  during  the  days  of  soic  trial. 


Reorganization  of  Faculty 

He  said  within  ten  days  or  two  weeks  would  do.  I  told 
him  all  right;  he  should  have  his  money.  I  had  not  the 
least  idea  where  any  of  it  was  to  come  from,  but  had 
full  faith  that  providence  would  provide  some  way.  A 
few  days  later  I  met  him  again  and  he  told  me  that  if  I 
would  make  a  new  note  with  the  same  endorsers  that 
he  already  had,  we  could  have  the  money  another  year. 
This  I  did  and  we  kept  the  money  five  years. 

"I  continued  in  the  office  of  general  manager  and 
treasurer  for  eight  years,  and  in  1891  resigned  and  ac- 
cepted the  pastorate  of  a  charge  at  Perry,  Iowa.  Soon 
after  I  had  moved  and  settled  in  Perry,  President  Mills 
visited  me  and  pleaded  so  hard  that  I  again  accepted  the 
office  of  field  secretary,  and  held  it  for  two  years,  making 
in  all  thirteen  years  of  service  for  the  College. 

"Associated  with  me  in  raising  funds  for  the  College 
were  H.  H.  Maynard,  Rev.  A.  M.  Leichliter,  and  proba- 
bly some  others  whom  I  have  forgotten.  Mr.  Leichliter 
worked  mainly  in  Tama  County  in  an  effort  to  raise  an 
endowment  fund.  Mr.  Maynard  was  a  successful  solici- 
tor and  secured  some  fine  donations. 

"About  1885,  Mrs.  Mary  Beatty,  of  Illinois,  gave 
$10,000  to  build  Mary  Beatty  Hall,  a  boarding  house  for 
lady  students,  on  condition  that  the  College  was  to  pay 
her  six  per  cent,  interest  annually  on  that  amount  during 
her  life.  At  her  death  the  interest  was  to  cease  and  the 
money  was  to  become  the  property  of  the  College.  After 
her  death  the  administrator  sued  the  College  for  the 
$10,000,  but  the  courts  decided  the  case  in  favor  of  the 
College. 

"While  attending  an  annual  conference  in  Colorado,  I 
was  told  by  a  member  of  the  conference  of  a  very  poor 
man,  who,  with  his  family,  were  members  of  the  Church 

177 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

hi  Pueblo,  who  was  expecting  about  a  million  dollars 
from  an  estate  in  England.  I  went  to  see  them,  and, 
after  several  consultations  with  him,  he  agreed  that  as 
soon  as  he  received  his  "windfall"  he  would  make  a  dona- 
tion of  $100,000  to  the  College.  He  had  a  brother  living 
in  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania,  and  when  I  came  home  and 
reported,  the  Executive  Committee  sent  me  to  Pittsburg 
to  see  the  brother.  I  hunted  him  up  and  he  agreed  with 
his  brother  that  the  estate  was  due,  but  said  that  there 
were  some  legal  questions  to  be  settled  before  they  would 
receive  it.  I  kept  an  eye  on  the  matter  until  two  or 
three  years  later,  when  the  brother  in  Pueblo  died,  then 
gave  it  up.  While  in  Pittsburg  I  visited  Andrew  Car- 
negie, but  received  nothing  from  him  at  the  time  except 
good  advice  and  encouraging  words. 

"At  one  time  there  were  ten  conferences  cooperating 
with  Western  College — Iowa,  East  Des  Moines,  West 
Des  Moines,  Rock  River,  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  Minne- 
sota, East  Nebraska,  West  Nebraska,  and  Colorado.  I 
attended  the  annual  sessions  of  these  conferences,  and, 
without  an  exception,  was  always  accorded  a  hearty 
reception,  and  on  no  occasion  was  made  to  feel  that  I  was 
an  unwelcome  visitor  at  any  Conference.  I  sometimes 
acted  as  temporary  chairman,  sometimes  as  secretary 
pro  ton.,  usually  preached  one  evening  during  the  con- 
ference week,  and  always  kept  an  eye  open  for  students 
and  two  eyes  open  for  money  for  the  College.  I  generally 
dictated  the  report  on  education,  and  when  the  time  came 
for  its  consideration,  made  a  cracking  good  speech." 

PRESIDENT  W.  M.  BEARDSHEAR. 

The  eight  years  spent  by  William  Miller  Beardshear  as 
the  head  of  Western  College  form  but  a  chapter — one  of 

178 


Reorganisation  of  Faculty 

the  earlier  chapters — in  the  career  of  a  truly  great  man. 
For  him  personally  that  period  was  an  important  stage  in 
his  development,  a  period  of  unfolding  for  his  great 
powers  and  of  trying  his  strength ;  for  the  College  it  was 
an  epoch-making  period  of  advancing  standards  and 
expanding  hopes.  Something  of  President  Beardshear's 
share  in  the  outside,  material,  and  tangible  affairs  of  the 
College  has  already  been  given.  It  remains  to  give  some- 
thing of  his  relation  to  the  inner  life  of  the  institution, 
the  more  intimate  touch  of  spirit,  the  impress  of  person- 
ality upon  personality. 

We  who  were  fortunate  enough  to  be  students  in  those 
days  remember  that  towering  form,  those  mighty  limbs 
instinct  with  latent  strength,  and  that  rugged  face,  now 
fit  to  awe  an  empire  into  obedience  and  now  suffused  with 
tenderest  sympathy  or  lit  up  with  a  glow  of  pleasure  at 
the  beauty  of  a  rose  or  the  song  of  a  wren.  We  remem- 
ber still  the  touch  of  that  hand  and  how  it  sent  through 
us  a  current  of  hope  and  courage  and  let  us  know  that  our 
difficulties  were  fully  understood.  We  remember  the 
stimulating  freshness  and  manly  vigor  of  the  ideals  he 
brought  us  in  his  numerous  chapel  talks,  brief  talks  into 
which  he  condensed  the  essence  of  his  communion  with 
nature  and  with  books,  and  especially  with  the  Unseen. 
Pleasing  memories  of  these  still  linger  about  the  chapel 
where  many  a  needed  admonition  was  lightly  passed  over 
with  a  sly  smile  and  the  old  adage,  "A  hint  to  the  wise 
is  sufficient." 

President  Beardshear  was  born  and  raised  on  a  farm, 
a  life  from  which  he  drew  a  kind  of  elemental  strength 
and  imbibed  a  love  for  nature  with  her  myriads  of  beau- 
tiful forms  and  countless  wee  things,  and  acquired  a 
quick,    intuitive   understanding   of    her   vast    processes. 

179 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

Aflame  with  the  fires  of  patriotism,  he  enlisted  as  a  boy 
of  fourteen  and  carried  his  drum  at  the  head  of  the 
column  to  the  end  of  the  war.  Hungry  for  learning,  he 
completed  the  course  at  Otterbein,  and  then  spent  three 
years  in  graduate  study  at  Yale.  Astir  with  spiritual 
ideals,  he  took  up  the  work  of  a  Christian  minister,  to 
turn  from  it  only  because  his  true  calling  was  to  be  found 
in  the  field  of  education.  When  the  presidency  of 
Western  College  was  offered  him  in  1881,  he  accepted, 
and,  having  found  his  work,  went  at  it  with  his  might. 
With  him  there  could  be  no  loitering,  no  half-hearted  en- 
deavor. He  lavished  upon  the  school  his  splendid  powers 
for  organization,  his  boundless  energies  and  great  stores 
of  human  sympathy  and  tactful  sway  over  growing  lives. 
Often  harassed  by  the  material  limitations  and  perplex- 
ing difficulties  of  his  position,  he  would  go  for  solace  and 
refreshing  back  to  the  heart  of  nature,  or  to  his  loved 
poets,  and,  above  all,  to  the  Book.  Often  in  the  dusk 
of  evening,  and  occasionally  in  the  gray  of  morning,  was 
he  seen  striding  along  the  grove  that  skirts  the  campus, 
hands  behind  his  back,  head  erect,  eyes  and  ears  alert  for 
nature's  many  forms  and  countless  voices  and  heart  re- 
sponsive to  her  message,  or  standing  with  sudden  halt, 
feet  planted  far  apart,  and  eyes  fixed  beyond  the  bounds 
of  time  and  space  as  some  great  thought  or  wave  of  emo- 
tion swept  his  soul.  Many  a  time  at  evening  after  the 
lamps  were  lit,  stretched  at  full  length  upon  his  study 
couch,  with  his  favorite  Browning  or  Whitman  in  his 
hand  and  the  Bible  open  at  his  elbow,  he  drank  in  the 
inspiration  that  compelled  men  to  listen  when  he  spoke. 
This  is  the  man  a  few  knew  and  adored,  the  charm  of 
whose  personality  many  more  felt  without  knowing  why. 
The  two  years  as   superintendent  of  schools   at  Des 

180 


Reorganization  of  Faculty 

Moines  were  but  an  interval,  a  kind  of  stepping  stone. 
President  Beardshear's  true  life  work  was  found  when 
he  was  placed  at  the  head  of  Iowa  State  College.  Here 
for  eleven  years  all  his  talent  for  organization  and  all 
his  gifts  for  moulding  young  lives  were  given  fullest 
play.  Here  he  used  up  his  vast  energies  at  such  high 
rate  that  the  end  came  August  5,  1902,  when  he  was  but 
fifty-two. 

On  the  wall  of  his  private  office  at  Ames  there  hung 
for  years  this  poster,  "I  expect  to  pass  through  this  world 
but  once ;  and  any  good  that  I  can  do  or  any  kindness 
that  I  can  show  to  any  human  fellow-being,  let  me  do  it 
now;  let  me  not  defer  or  neglect  it,  for  I  shall  not  pass 
this  way  again."  The  uozv  was  heavily  underscored, 
the  whole  motto  showing  President  Beardshear's  ideal  of 
living,  and  the  underscored  word  his  placing  of  life's 
emphasis. 

This  tribute  must  close  with  two  passages  from  the 
account  of  the  memorial  services  held  in  the  College 
chapel  at  Ames,  September  5,  1902. 

"This  dust  was  once  the  man, 
Gentle,  plain,  just,  and  resolute." 

"Upon  the  green  hill,  in  a  fresh-made  grave,  lie  the 
mortal  remains  of  one  of  the  nobility  of  earth,  whose 
friends  gathered  last  Sunday  almost  in  view  of  his  rest- 
ing place  to  pay  the  last  public  service  to  his  memory, 
though  within  many  hearts  remembrance  will  spring  per- 
ennial. His  body  rests  beneath  the  stalwart  native  trees, 
fit  sepulchre  for  his  stalwart  frame,  like  them  indigenous 
to  the  soil.  For  him  was  carved  anew  the  epitaph  of 
friendship  and  for  him  anew  was  shed  the  falling  tear, 
and  in  each  mournful  breast  was  felt  anew  the  grief  of 

181 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

loss.  Again  the  burden  of  sorrow  pressed  heavily 
against  weary  shoulders,  and  again  was  brought  to  mind 
the  awfulness  of  the  conquest  of  death,  and  it  was  almost 
with  the  first  poignancy  of  grief  that  here  were  gathered 
his  friends  and  family,  students  and  faculty,  at  the  begin- 
ning of  a  new  term  and  for  the  first  Sunday  chapel,  greet- 
ing with  tear-dimmed  eyes  the  familiar  surroundings 
while  he,  majestic  in  life,  has  now  passed  the  portals  of 
death. 

"The  platform,  beautiful  in  its  banking  of  palms  and 
flowers,  was  made  conspicuous  by  a  great  bunch  of 
American  beauties  at  the  right  of  the  reading  table,  show- 
ing that  loving  hearts  had  again  remembered  his  favorite, 
fit  type  of  the  blood  of  his  manhood  that  had  poured  out 
in  imperishable  form  its  crimson  tide  on  the  altar  of  a 
common  good  for  the  school  in  all  its  departments. 

"The  real  center  of  a  college's  destiny-making  activity 
is  where  faculty  and  students  are  busy  with  their  daily 
tasks.  It  is  here,  in  this  sacred  college  home  circle,  that 
I  like  best  to  place,  in  memory,  our  beloved  president. 
He  moved  among  us  as  we  might  imagine  some  great- 
hearted, benevolent,  masterful  prince  of  a  chivalrous  age 
to  have  moved  among  his  people.  As  a  faculty,  we 
worked  with  him,  not  under  him.  His  commission  as 
our  leader  needed  no  attestation  of  authority.  It  was 
never  necessary  to  idealize  him  in  order  to  make  him 
great.  He  grew  upon  us  as  we  came  near  him  in  the 
performance  of  our  daily  duties.  His  enormous  capacity 
for  work,  his  knowledge  of  men,  his  insight  into  motives, 
his  quick  grasp  of  the  trend  of  things,  his  wise  judgment 
of  means,  his  confidence  in  his  own  decisions,  and  his 
faith  in  the  final  triumph  of  right  commanded  our  ever- 
increasing  respect ;  and  when,  in  his  loftier  moods,  he  rose 

182 


Reorganisation  of  Faculty 

to  grander  heights,  the  clearness  of  his  vision,  the  mighty- 
sweep  of  his  thought,  and  his  marvelous  power  of  putting 
great  truths  into  language  that  convinced  and  inspired, 
filled  us  with  a  regard  that  bordered  on  reverence." 

Around  President  Beardshear  was  gathered  an  unusu- 
ally strong  faculty.  Besides  those  already  mentioned  as 
constituting  the  first  faculty  at  Toledo,  several  distin- 
guished for  scholarship,  strong  personality,  or  special  effi- 
ciency were  afterward  added.  Professor  I.  A.  Loos,  who 
came  in  1884  directly  from  graduate  studies  in  Leipsic, 
Germany,  preceded  by  some  years  at  Yale,  brought  a 
quality  of  wide  scholarship  that  helped  greatly  in  giving 
prestige  to  the  College.  He  remained  until  1889,  a  force 
that  touched  all  sides  of  college  life,  and  then  went  to  the 
State  University  of  Iowa,  one  of  many  strong  teachers 
Western  sent  to  larger  institutions.  Professor  C.  J. 
Kephart  gave  his  unlimited  energies  to  the  Department  of 
Mathematics  and  his  intense  personality  to  the  life  of 
the  school  for  two  years.  Professor  Herbert  Oldham,  first 
Director  of  the  Conservatory  of  Music,  is  still  remembered 
for  his  superior  skill  in  playing  the  piano  and  pipe-organ. 
Professor  O.  O.  Runkle,  first  Principal  of  the  Commercial 
Department,  laid  the  broad  foundations  upon  which  his 
successor,  Professor  E.  F.  Warren,  built  the  largest  and 
most  enthusiastic  Commercial  Department  in  the  history 
of  the  institution.  Professor  A.  L.  DeLong,  first  dis- 
tinct Professor  of  English  Literature  and  Rhetoric  filled 
the  chair  but  one  year,  1883-84,  after  which  the  position 
was  vacant  until  the  coming  of  Professor  J.  S.  Mills  in 
the  fall  of  1887.  Professor  Mills  brought  logical  schol- 
arship, large  church  prestige,  and  great  personal  dignity, 
qualities  that  gave  him  the  presidency  of  the  College  upon 
the  retirement  of  President  Beardshear.      Considerable 

183 


Western — Lc and er-C lark  College 

was  added  to  the  mental  and  spiritual  life  of  the  school 
through  periodical  lectures  on  assigned  subjects  by  Bishop 
Jonathan  Weaver,  Bishop  E.  B.  Kephart,  Hon.  L.  G. 
Kinne,  Hon.  E.  C.  Ebersole,  Dr.  E.  R.  Smith,  and  Rev. 
B.  M.  Long.  Mr.  Long,  as  College  pastor,  came  into 
very  intimate  touch  with  the  lives  of  the  students  and 
exerted  over  them  an  influence  that  was  sweet  and  whole- 
some and  permanently  elevating. 

Student  activities  multiplied  during  this  period,  and 
student  organizations  began  to  reach  out  and  affiliate  with 
like  organizations  in  other  colleges  of  the  State.  Students 
of  Western  took  part  in  the  State  Oratorical  Contest.  A 
Y.  M.  C.  A.  was  organized,  and  a  Y.  W.  C.  A.  a  little 
later.  The  Teacher  and  Student,  the  first  paper  edited 
and  published  by  students,  was  conducted  for  a  few  years. 
The  literary  societies  increased  in  numbers  and  enthusi- 
asm. The  social  life  of  the  College  community  became 
more  conscious,  more  unified,  more  mature. 

Many  of  the  students  who  went  far  into  or  through 
the  course  at  this  period  have  gone  out  to  fill  positions 
of  influence  and  importance  in  the  professions  or  in  busi- 
ness ;  some  of  them  left  a  deep  impress  upon  the  slowly 
changing  student  ideals  to  which  each  generation  contri- 
butes a  share.  W.  C.  Smith  and  T.  H.  Studebaker,  com- 
posing the  first  graduating  class  at  Toledo,  belong  rather 
to  the  days  at  old  Western,  though  both,  since  graduation. 
have  kept  in  close  touch  with  the  College.  Josie  Patter- 
son, a  sunny  influence  in  student  circles,  even  yet  has  not 
lost  her  enthusiasm,  and  rarely  misses  a  commencement 
season.  J.  F.  Leffler  and  Cyrus  Timmons,  positive  forces 
in  literary  society  and  other  college  activities,  were  early 
graduated  into  the  life  beyond.  Dan  Fulcomer  has  lived 
to  become  an  authority  on  all  the  quaint  and  curious  lore 

184 


Reorganization  of  Faculty 

relating  to  different  races  of  mankind ;  he  is  now  at  the 
national  Capital  as  Government  expert  in  modern  lan- 
guages. C.  M.  Brooke  will  be  remembered  for  his  activ- 
ity in  his  literary  society  and  other  phases  of  college  life, 
and  later  for  his  prominence  in  connection  with  educa- 
tional interests  of  the  Church.  R.  L.  Swain  has  cast  a 
long  shadow  behind  him  because  of  his  thoughtful  seri- 
ousness, and  particularly  because  of  his  gift  of  song  and 
his  power  in  public  speech.  None  who  knew  him  can 
forget  Jess  Runkle,  genial  as  a  comrade,  tenacious  for  his 
convictions,  loyal  to  his  friends  and  to  his  College,  later 
cut  down  just  as  he  was  making  a  name  and  a  place  for 
himself  in  his  profession. 

May  Kephart  and  Fannie  Thompson  are  remembered 
still  for  their  large  share  in  chapel  song  and  Sabbath  choir, 
and  Geneve  Lichtenwalter  for  her  piano  playing.  Dan 
Filkins,  fleet-footed,  good-natured  happy-go-lucky  chaser 
of  the  flying  sphere,  with  his  spontaneous  enthusiasm  for 
baseball,  did  much  toward  establishing  a  wholesome  ath- 
letic spirit  in  the  school.  Bennett,  Bonebrake,  Filkins, 
Patterson,  Slessor,  Wilcox,  Zumbro,  Esther  Butler,  Clara 
Cozad,  Elnora  Dickman,  Gazelle  Halstead,  May  Kephart, 
Geneve  Lichtenwalter,  Mary  Louthan,  Edna  Thompson, 
classmates  in  the  dear  old  college  days — God  bless  them 
all;  and  of  a  later  class,  Squire  Beatty,  Ed.  Buchner,  Ben 
Cokely,  and  Will  Krohn,  two  of  them  already  promoted 
to  the  higher  life,  have  by  their  deeds  helped  to  lay  solid 
foundations  upon  which  the  College's  future  fame  and 
greatness  rests  secure.  These  and  many  more,  whom 
space  forbids  even  to  name,  came,  brought  something  to 
the  common  college  life,  took  something  away  with  them, 
and  left  much  behind. 


185 


Chapter  X. 

THIRD  CRISAL  PERIOD.  BURNING  OF  MAIN  BUILD- 
ING. BURDEN  OF  REBUILDING.  GROWING  FINANCIAL 
EMBARRASSMENTS.  INTERNAL  LIFE.  FACULTY  AND 
STUDENTS.      CRISIS   OF    1893-94. 

The  period  from  the  close  of  the  year  1889  to  1894 
may  be  designated  as  the  third  crisal  period  in  the  life  of 
the  College,  a  crisis  that  threatened  colossal  and  over- 
whelming disaster  compared  with  which  the  crisis  just 
before  the  removal  from  Western  and  the  one  following 
the  Civil  War  sink  into  insignificance.  The  period  of 
expansion  during  the  years  immediately  preceding  had 
brought  on  what  seems  inevitable  under  the  circumstances 
even  in  the  hard-headed  business  world,  namely,  the 
reaching  out  far  beyond  present  resources  and  the  conse- 
quent incurring  of  large  obligations  with  a  more  or  less 
blind  trust  that  a  kind  future  will  provide  even  larger 
means  wherewith  to  meet  those  obligations. 

In  the  report  of  the  Ways  and  Means  Committee,  in 
June,  1888,  is  found  the  following  item : 

"That  while  the  total  expenditure  of  the  College  for 
the  year  seems  large,  it  must  be  remembered  that  the  work 
of  the  institution  is  also  growing  rapidly  wider  in  extent 
and  influence  and  higher  in  character,  and  that  some 
schemes  of  magnitude  have  been  undertaken  and  prose- 
cuted to  some  extent  (not  without  hope)  for  placing  the 
College  upon  a  broad  and  permanent  foundation. 

"This  growth  and  these  efforts  have  required  the  ex- 
penditure of  large  sums  of  money,  but  we  find  no  evi- 
dence of  any  extravagance  in  any  quarter.  On  the  other 
hand,  we  think  that  the  finances  of  the  institution  have 

186 


Third  Crisal  Period 

been  admirably  managed,  and  we  are  pleased  to  report 
that  the  credit  of  the  College  is  unquestioned  in  business, 
both  at  home  and  abroad.  Nevertheless,  good  credit 
should  not  lead  to  any  of  the  carelessness  that  often 
attends  prosperity;  and  we  recommend  that  all  expendi- 
tures be  carefully  guarded  and  that  all  dues  be  carefully 
and  promptly  collected,  even  to  the  smallest  sums." 

The  "schemes  of  magnitude"  referred  to  with  hope- 
fulness by  the  report  were  those  for  raising  the  sum  of 
$200,000,  to  be  known  as  the  "Fund  of  1889."  As  that 
fund  occupied  the  energies  of  the  College  authorities  for 
some  time,  and  served  as  an  anchor  of  hope,  the  circular 
issued  at  the  time  is  reproduced  below. 

"plans  for  the  securement 
of 
$200,000. 

ADOPTED   JANUARY   llTH,    1888. 

"Western  College  hereby  orders  a  canvass  to  be  made 
for  the  securing  of  an  additional  fund  of  not  less  than 
$200,000,  to  be  known  as  the  'Fund  of  1889,'  on  the  fol- 
lowing terms  and  conditions,  to  wit: 

"1.  Said  fund  shall  be  invested  or  expended,  at  the 
discretion  of  the  College,  for  endowment,  building,  or 
other  purposes,  as  the  best  interests  of  the  College  may 
seem  to  require,  unless  otherwise  designated  by  the 
donor. 

"2.  No  obligation  for  the  said  fund  shall  be  valid  or 
collectible  until  $200,000  is  secured  in  cash,  or  such  obli- 
gations as  the  College  shall  approve,  unless  such  sum 
shall  be  secured  on  or  before  July  1,  1890,  nor  until 
notice  that  such  sum  has  been  secured  shall  be  published 
by  authority  of  the  College  in  the  Religious  Telescope, 

187 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

of  Dayton,  Ohio ;  but  after  such  sum  has  been  so  secured, 
and  said  notice  has  been  given,  such  obligations  shall  be 
valid  and  collectible,  and  shall  draw  interest  at  the  rate 
of  six  per  cent,  per  annum,  from  January  1st,  1890, 
payable  on  the  first  day  of  January  of  each  year  there- 
after. 

"3.  The  name  of  the  College  may  be  changed,  and 
shall  be  awarded  to  the  person,  or  number  of  persons 
acting  in  concert  to  that  end,  who  shall  contribute  to  said 
fund  in  cash,  or  satisfactory  securities,  the  sum  of  $100,- 
000,  provided  that  the  name  proposed  meets  the  approval 
of  the  College. 

"4.  Should  the  said  $200,000  be  secured,  the  College 
proposes  to  erect,  in  the  near  future,  as  the  collection  of 
the  funds  may  justify,  the  following  buildings: 

"Observatory  and  Science  Hall. 
"Museum  and  Art  Building. 
"Library  Building. 

"If  any  person  or  persons  shall  contribute,  as  a  part 
of  said  fund,  the  sum  of  $25,000,  and  shall  appropriate  it 
for  the  erection,  or  the  erection  and  equipment,  of  either 
of  such  buildings,  the  College  will,  upon  the  payment  of 
such  sum  by  such  person  or  persons,  in  cash  or  available 
securities,  proceed  to  the  erection  of  such  building,  and 
will  award  the  naming  of  the  building  to  such  person  or 
persons,  provided  that  the  name  proposed  shall  be  ap- 
proved by  the  College. 

"5.  Any  person,  or  number  of  persons  acting  in  con- 
cert, may  appropriate  their  contributions  to  the  endow- 
ment of  a  professorship  in  the  College,  and  if  the  sum  so 
appropriated  shall  appear  to  the  College  to  be  adequate  to 
the  purpose,  such  person  or  persons  shall  be  awarded  the 

188 


Third  Crisal  Period 

naming  of  such  professorship,  provided  the  name  pro- 
posed be  acceptable  to  the  College. 

"6.  The  names  of  all  persons  who  give  $100  or  more 
to  said  fund  shall  be  published  in  the  College  catalogue 
as  soon  as  practicable  after  the  said  fund  is  secured. 

"The  names  of  the  donors  to  said  fund  who  give  $5 
or  more  shall  be  preserved,  and  each  of  such  donors 
furnished  a  cut  of  the  College. 

"The  names  of  all  donors  to  said  fund  shall  be  pub- 
lished in  the  Toledo  Collegian. 

"7.  All  contributions  less  than  $25  shall  be  payable 
in  cash,  on  demand,  as  soon  as  the  said  fund  is  secured, 
and  notice  given  thereof." 

The  report  of  the  treasurer,  in  June,  1889,  shows  some 
interesting  figures.  At  that  time  the  College  still  owed 
on  the  Building  Fund,  $30,852;  on  Contingent  Fund, 
$25,710;  and  to  teachers,  $1,740;  a  total  of  $58,302.  As 
an  offset  the  College  held  building  notes,  $15,661,  and 
Contingent  Notes,  $5,331.36.  The  expenses  for  the  year 
ending  June  1,  1889,  amounted  to  $7,388.31  above  the 
incomes  for  the  same  period,  a  high-water  mark  in  defi- 
cits. As  grounds  of  encouragement  the  College  had 
buildings,  real  estate,  and  equipments  estimated  at  $135,- 
650;  endowment  notes,  $98,490,  including  the  old  Western 
endowment,  the  Drury  endowment,  and  the  Tama  County 
Garfield  Memorial;  and  pledges  aggregating  $23,015  on 
the  Fund  of  1889. 

Summing  up  the  situation,  especially  with  reference  to 
raising  the  $200,000,  the  report  goes  on  to  say : 

"We  have  launched  out  into  the  deep.  A  failure  to 
reach  the  shore  would  be  a  sad  calamity  indeed.  But  we 
do  not  expect  such  a  calamity.  The  fact  that  our  honored 
captain  has  vacated  his  place  should  not  be  a  cause  for 

189 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

discouragement.  Room  is  thereby  made  for  some  other 
great  man  who  will  doubtless  lead  us  forward  with  as 
bright  hopes  of  final  victory  as  we  ever  cherished.  It 
may  also  throw  us  upon  our  own  resources,  and  bring  into 
activity  a  large  number  whose  united  strength  may  far 
exceed  the  strength  of  the  one  upon  whom  we  have 
depended  so  fully.  We  should  now  generate  more  steam, 
hang  a  sledge  hammer  on  the  safety  valve,  seek  the  aid 
of  that  mighty  unseen  engine  which  is  controlled  by  the 
divine  hand  which  directs  in  the  promotion  of  every  good 
cause,  and  shout  with  a  ring  that  will  echo  and  reecho 
throughout  the  full  extent  of  our  broad  territory,  'Pull  for 
the  shore.'  " 

Such,  then,  was  the  situation  when  President  Beard- 
shear  laid  down  the  mantle  of  the  presidency,  and  Pro- 
fessor J.  S.  Mills  was  chosen  to  succeed  to  the  burdens  of 
that  office.  President  Mills  accepted  the  position  believ- 
ing that  the  College  authorities  understood  the  great  re- 
sponsibilities that  they  were  laying  upon  him,  and  assured 
by  the  Board  in  strongest  terms  that  the  warmest  sym- 
pathy and  the  heartiest  support  were  back  of  him  in  his 
great  undertaking.  The  new  administration  started  out 
hopefully,  only  to  be  overtaken  in  a  few  short  months 
by  a  calamity  that  tried  the  souls  of  all  the  friends  of  the 
College  and  almost  crushed  President  Mills — the  calamity 
of  a  disastrous  fire. 

The  following  account  printed  in  the  Tama  County 
Democrat  is  a  vivid  description  of  the  fire  and  the  con- 
sternation its  ravages  brought  to  the  community;  the 
report  gives  also  some  hint  of  the  grim  resolve  that  fol- 
lowed the  first  dismay  to  rise  in  one  united  effort  and 
repair  the  loss : 

190  .      ,         -       ;  , 


Third  Crisal  Period 

"On  the  morning  of  December  26,  after  a  beautiful 
Christmas  day,  at  about  1 :30  a.m.,  the  people  of  Toledo 
were  aroused  from  their  slumbers  by  the  alarm  of  fire.  If 
there  is  anything  calculated  to  strike  terror  to  the  heart 
of  man,  it  is  a  fire  alarm  in  the  dead  of  night.  The 
cause  of  this  alarm  was  a  blaze  discovered  in  the  east  end 
of  the  magnificent  college  building.  In  just  what  part 
the  fire  had  originated  can  hardly  be  determined,  but 
suffice  it  to  say  that  it  was  near  the  east  end.  The  fire 
department  responded  quickly  to  the  alarm,  the  engine, 
hook  and  ladder,  and  both  hose  carts  soon  being  on  the 
grounds.  The  fire  by  this  time  had  gained  considerable 
headway,  but  it  was  thought  that  it  could  be  extinguished. 
Imagine  then  the  feeling,  which  well  nigh  struck  dumb 
the  assembled  multitude,  when  it  was  discovered  that  the 
cisterns  in  the  vicinity  of  the  College,  and  which  were  the 
only  source  from  which  water  could  be  obtained,  were 
all  dry,  or  nearly  so.  It  was  evident  then  that  no  water 
could  be  thrown,  and  at  the  same  time  became  apparent 
that  the  grand  building  with  all  its  contents,  the  pride  of 
Toledo  and  Tama  County,  on  which  our  good  United 
Brethren  friends  had  built  their  hopes  for  years,  must 
perish,  perish  entire,  with  a  large  gathering  of  hundreds 
of  people  standing  helpless,  powerless  to  stay  the  work 
of  great  destruction.  When  it  became  so  evident  that  all 
must  be  lost,  strong  men,  men  who  stand  at  the  top  in  the 
estimation  of  the  people,  shed  tears — bitter  tears — 
and  who  could  blame  them.  It  was  indeed  a  heart- 
rending sight,  to  see  the  flames  as  they  rapidly  licked  up 
everything  in  their  path,  constantly  spreading  from  room 
to  room,  through  corridor  and  hall,  up  the  stairs  and 
through  the  ceiling,  until  the  entire  east  wing  was  a  mass 
of  flame.      To  our  young  people  it  was  a  source  of  sad- 

191 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

ness  indeed  to  watch  the  flames  as  they  crept  steadily 
into  the  two  society  halls,  where  they  suddenly  burst  out 
with  renewed  vigor,  consuming  there  the  fruits  of  years 
of  their  faithful  labor.  The  elegant  furniture,  the  fine 
pianos,  organs,  and  all  had  to  go.  Nor  did  the  flame 
stop  in  the  east  wing ;  with  a  strong  wind  directly  against 
it,  the  fire  slowly,  but  surely,  crept  into  the  west  part, 
gaining  headway  each  moment,  until  in  less  than  an  hour 
and  a  half  after  the  alarm  was  given  this  entire  building, 
erected  at  the  cost  of  about  $75,000,  was  a  mass  of  flames 
with  the  roof  falling  in  in  every  part.  It  burned  steadily, 
but  every  moment  more  fiercely,  and  in  a  little  over  two 
hours  after  the  alarm  nothing  remained  to  tell  the  story 
of  the  once  great  building  but  the  bare  walls  with  a 
smouldering  mass  within.  The  tall  tower  stood,  and  it 
was  for  a  time  thought  that  the  fine  costly  bell  might  be 
saved,  but  nothing  was  to  be  saved.  The  hungry  flames 
reached  it  and  it  fell  with  a  crash  at  about  five  o'clock 
a.m.  There,  in  the  early  morning,  stood  crowds  of  men 
and  women  gazing  sorrowfully  upon  the  wonderful  struct- 
ure, erected  with  such  care,  such  labor,  and  under  such 
difficulty,  upon  which  such  hopes  had  been  built,  hopes 
seemingly  a  few  short  hours  before  to  be  soon  realized. 
They  watched  the  structure  crumble,  wilt,  and  vanish 
under  the  power  of  the  fierce  conflagration  which  held 
full  sway.  The  wind,  which  was  blowing  a  gale  from  the 
northwest,  carried  a  perfect  current  of  sparks,  burning 
wood,  etc.,  to  the  southeast,  firing  the  grass  along  the 
path  and  even  carrying  as  far  as  the  cemetery,  where 
several  fires  were  ignited.  Scores  of  men  battled  with 
these  flames,  finally  succeding  in  gaining  control  of  them 
with  little  damage  done,  except  a  few  fences  fired.  Grad- 
ually did  the  fire  die  out  and  the  people  went  slowly  and 

192 


MAJOR  LEANDER  CLARK 
Whose  timely  gift  of  $50,000  secured  to  the  College  its  endowment  of  $150,000. 


'  *■•' '^'|K 

V 

J^|  h  s'''JH8dft 

s      WL  "#• 

'^l 

REV.  C.  J.  KEPHART 

President    1905-1908,   during  which  time  the   Endowment   Effort 

reached  a  successful  termination. 


Third  Crisal  Period 

sorrowfully  to  their  homes  to  snatch  a  little  sleep  before 
the  labors  of  the  day  began. 

"The  dawn  of  Thursday  presented  an  appalling  spectacle 
to  the  eye.  There  were  the  bare  walls,  smoking  and  smoul- 
dering, the  only  monument  left  to  tell  where  a  few  short 
hours  before  one  of  the  finest  college  buildings  in  Iowa 
had  stood.  A  few  scattering  pieces  of  furniture,  books, 
papers,  etc.,  lay  strewn  about  the  premises,  all  that  was 
saved  of  the  extensive  outfit  of  Western  College.  The 
Thompson  Cabinet,  presented  by  Mrs.  Charles  Mason, 
and  considered  the  finest  in  the  State,  had  vanished  alas, 
in  a  few  brief  moments,  in  smoke.  The  value  of  this 
cabinet  alone  is  estimated  at  $50,000.  The  mammoth 
library,  the  pride  of  the  College,  alas,  was  gone  with  the 
remainder  of  the  equipments.  The  loss  is  estimated  at 
from  $125,000  to  $150,000,  with  an  insurance  of  $22,000 
on  the  same. 

"The  wreck  seemed  complete,  and  the  question  arose, 
'Can  we  rebuild?'  The  question  scarcely  arose  until  it 
was  answered.  The  Executive  Board  held  a  meeting  at 
once  and  determined  that  the  school  would  begin  in  one 
week  in  another  building,  and  be  conducted  the  same, 
even  though  it  be  poorly  accommodated.  The  citizens 
of  Toledo  at  once  got  out  posters,  stating  that  there  would 
be  a  meeting  in  the  United  Brethren  Church  at  two  o'clock 
for  the  purpose  of  making  arrangements  for  the  rebuild- 
ing of  the  College.  The  meeting  was  held  and  every 
business  house  in  the  city  closed  in  order  that  all  might 
attend.  All  did  attend,  and  a  good  meeting  it  was. 
G.  R.  Struble  was  selected  chairman  and  A.  T.  Wilson 
and  Chas.  S.  Bradshaw,  secretaries.  Speeches  were  made 
by  Messrs.  Struble,  Beardshear,  Kinne,  Stiger,  Johnston, 
Ebersole,  Stivers,  Smith  and  others  and  the  matter  was 

193 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

thoroughly  discussed.  It  was  decided  that  $75,000  is 
needed  at  least,  and  the  following  resolution,  which  was 
presented  by  Judge  Kinne,  was  unanimously  adopted : 

"  'Resolved,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  meeting  that  the 
citizens  assembled  proceed  at  once  to  take  the  necessary 
steps  to  raise  $25,000  for  the  rebuilding  of  Western  Col- 
lege.' 

"A  committee,  consisting  of  Judge  Kinne,  Hon.  H.  J. 
Stiger,  and  F.  E.  Smith,  was  appointed  by  the  chair  to 
confer  with  a  committee  from  the  College  and  to  deter- 
mine as  nearly  as  possible  the  amount  of  money  needed 
and  what  terms  could  be  given  on  subscription.  The 
meeting  was  then  adjourned  to  Friday  evening,  at  7:30 
o'clock,  and  at  that  meeting  we  believe  the  $25,000  will 
be  raised,  and  more.  W.  F.  Johnston  has  offered  $1,000 
and  it  may  be  more,  Bishop  Kephart  has  said  he  will  give 
$1,000  provided  five  others  can  be  obtained  who  will  do 
the  same.  Hon.  H.  J.  Stiger  has  a  paper  in  circulation 
offering  to  head  a  list  of  twenty  who  will  give  $500  each, 
and  it  is  being  rapidly  filled.  There  is  no  question  in  our 
minds  but  that  Western  College  will  be  rebuilt,  and  that  at 
once,  and  we  firmly  believe  that  one  year  from  to-day  will 
see  a  much  better  building  there  than  the  one  destroyed. 
Our  citizens  must  see  that  it  is  rebuilt.  It  is  the  life  of 
our  town.  In  the  language  of  Judge  Kinne,  Tt  is  not  a 
question  of  what  we  ought  to  give,  but  what  we  have  got 
to  give.'  The  moving  of  Western  College  to  Toledo 
enhanced  the  value  of  property  here  nearly  fifty  per  cent., 
and  there  is  no  question  in  our  minds  it  would  decrease 
it,  were  the  College  removed.  No !  No !  it  must  stay,  is 
the  popular  voice  of  Toledo  people,  and  when  they  say 
so  they  mean  it.  We  can  give  positive  assurance  that 
there  will  be  no  hesitation  about  this  matter.      Our  citi- 

194 


Third  Crisal  Period 

zens  are  at  work  and  there  will  be  no  sleep  until  the 
money  necessary  is  raised.  Bishop  Kephart  assures  us 
that  the  Church  outside  of  Toledo  may  be  depended  upon 
for  $50,000,  and  we  can  assure  the  people  that  Toledo 
will  raise  at  least  $25,000.  It  is  a  matter  of  county  inter- 
est and  county  pride  that  this  college  is  rebuilt,  and  it 
should  receive  donations  from  all  parts  of  the  county. 
Come  to  the  rescue,  everybody,  and  show  what  manner  of 
men  we  are." 

President  Mills  was  in  the  East  on  the  night  of  the  fire, 
sent  on  a  mission  in  behalf  of  the  College,  but  fortunately 
Bishop  Kephart  and  ex-President  Beardshear  were  both 
at  home  for  the  holidays  and  gave  the  benefit  of  their 
large  experience  and  wise  counsel  to  General  Agent  Buf- 
kin,  the  Executive  Committee,  and  the  faculty  in  the  hour 
of  first  perplexity.  Even  while  the  building  was  still 
burning  the  authorities  held  an  impromptu  meeting  on 
the  frozen  ground  near  the  fire,  pierced  by  the  biting 
wind  on  one  side  and  blistered  by  the  intense  heat  on  the 
other,  and  determined  that  the  winter  term  of  school 
should  open  as  previously  announced.  The  next  day  the 
Executive  Committee  met  and  issued  the  following  circu- 
lar letter  to  students : 

"Toledo,  Iowa,  December  26,  1889. 
"Dear  Friend:  The  College  building  burned  this 
morning  at  two  o'clock,  of  which  you  have  doubtless 
heard,  but  notwithstanding,  the  winter  term  of  the  College 
will  begin  at  the  time  indicated,  January  2,  and  the  work 
will  proceed  without  interruption.  Ample  room  has  been 
provided  for  all  recitations  and  work,  both  in  the  literary 
and  business  departments.      Plans  are  already  on  foot  to 

195 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

rebuild  at  once,  and  the  people  are  enthusiastic  and  a  unit 
in  pressing  the  work  to  completion.  The  business  places 
of  the  city  were  closed  this  afternoon  and  the  citizens 
assembled  in  mass  convention  to  give  impulse  to  the  work 
of  rebuilding.  It  is  determined  that  the  good  work  of  the 
College  shall  not  only  continue,  but  continue  with  in- 
creased influence.  We  shall  look  for  you  at  the  opening 
of  the  term.  Come,  and  lend  your  influence  to  bring 
others." 

The  people  of  Toledo  realizing  what  it  meant  to  the 
community  to  have  the  College  again  set  on  its  feet,  and 
spurred  on  in  a  measure  perhaps  by  the  offers  that  began 
to  come  in  from  other  towns  bidding  for  the  College, 
went  systematically  and  energetically  to  work,  and  in  due 
time  had  their  share  of  the  cost  of  rebuilding  secured  in 
notes  and  pledges. 

A  special  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  was  called 
for  February  4,  1890,  to  determine  matters  of  rebuilding 
and  to  hear  propositions  for  relocation.  At  that  session 
a  syndicate  of  Des  Moines  real  estate  men  presented  a 
proposition  that  the  Board  felt  should  at  least  be  consid- 
ered and  so  adjourned  to  meet  again  February  18.  At 
the  second  meeting  the  Des  Moines  proposition  was  again 
up  and  fully  considered  in  the  light  of  investigations  that 
had  been  conducted  in  the  interval.  It  was  finally  decided 
that  the  College  should  remain  at  Toledo,  and  the  Execu- 
tive and  Building  Committees  were  instructed  to  proceed 
with  the  rebuilding  either  upon  the  old  foundation  or  on 
a  new  site,  one  building  or  more  as  in  their  judgment 
might  seem  best. 

Meanwhile  the  winter  term  of  school  had  opened.  The 
regular  college  and  academy  classes  were  held  in  the 

196 


Third  Crisal  Period 

rooms  of  Beatty  Hall,  temporarily  fitted  up  for  recitation 
purposes.  The  commercial  department  found  quarters 
in  the  hall  of  the  Toledo  Fire  Company  through  the  gen- 
erosity of  that  organization.  The  students  came  back 
loyally,  and  students  and  teachers  alike  submitted  uncom- 
plainingly to  the  inconveniences  and  limitations  of  their 
temporary  quarters ;  an  example  of  that  admirable  trait 
of  human  nature  which  makes  virtue  of  necessity  and 
turns  even  the  serious  aspects  of  life  into  occasions  for 
smiles.  Classes  were  held  in  Beatty  Hall  during  the 
winter  and  spring  terms.  By  the  opening  of  the  fall  term 
work  on  the  new  building  had  so  far  progressed  that  a 
few  rooms  could  be  utilized  for  class  purposes.  To  these 
the  students  came,  creeping  through  scaffolding  and  dodg- 
ing workmen,  and  recited  to  the  resounding  accompani- 
ment of  hammers  and  saws. 

Now  for  a  time  the  material  and  business  aspects  of 
college  life  again  overshadowed  the  psychological  and 
personal.  The  fire  came  and  added  a  grievous  loss  to  a 
debt  already  nearly  sixty  thousand  dollars.  The  whole  of 
the  insurance  on  the  old  building,  $22,000,  was  taken  to 
satisfy  imperative  creditors,  and  new  money  must  be 
found  for  both  building  and  equipment,  each  planned  on 
a  higher  scale  than  before.  It  was  estimated  that  $75,000 
would  be  needed  for  these  purposes.  The  citizens  of 
Toledo  undertook  to  raise  one-third  of  that  sum  and  the 
College  authorities  the  remainder. 

To  raise  this  vast  amount  the  regular  agents  of  the 
College  were  stimulated  to  redoubled  efforts  and  can- 
vassed the  territory  as  vigorously  as  possible.  President 
Mills  was  relieved  from  class  work  for  a  time  that  he 
might  aid  in  the  canvass,  and  numerous  assistant  solicitors 
were  called  in  for  longer  or  shorter  periods.      L.   H. 

197 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

Bufkin  was  still  general  agent  and  treasurer,  and  naturally 
was  most  active  in  all  financial  plans.  H.  H.  Maynard 
and  M.  S.  Drury  were  the  regular  soliciting  agents,  to 
whom  F.  H.  Brookmiller  was  added  for  two  years. 

The  details  of  rebuilding  and  the  responsibility  for  the 
judicious  expenditure  of  the  money  collected  fell  to  the 
Executive  Committee,  consisting  of  President  Mills,  E.  R. 
Smith,  W.  F.  Johnston,  E.  C.  Ebersole,  M.  S.  Drury,  and 
B.  M.  Long,  in  cooperation  with  A.  M.  Beal,  T.  D.  Adams, 
E.  B.  Kephart,  and  L.  G.  Kinne,  the  entire  body  consti- 
tuting the  Building  Committee.  Judge  L.  G.  Kinne  had 
recently  been  made  a  member  of  the  Board,  and  both  as 
a  member  of  that  body  and  of  the  Building  Committee 
he  rendered  invaluable  service  because  of  his  sound  legal 
judgment  and  his  wise  counsel  in  financial  affairs ;  he 
continued  for  many  years  a  genuine  and  influential  friend 
of  the  College. 

The  Board,  at  its  special  session,  February  18,  1890, 
laid  upon  the  Building  Committee  the  following  strenuous 
charge : 

"1.  To  erect  as  soon  as  possible — presumably  in  time 
for  the  opening  of  the  next  fall  term — a  college  building 
either  on  the  old  foundation,  or  as  an  independent  struct- 
ure or  structures  as  the  committee  may  deem  best. 

"2.  But  said  committee  shall  see  to  it  that  no  indebted- 
ness is  contracted  against  the  corporation,  or  for  which 
the  corporation  may  be  liable,  in  and  about  the  construc- 
tion of  said  building  or  buildings,  provided  that  said  com- 
mittee may  proceed  with  the  erection  of  said  building  or 
buildings  if  in  its  judgment  the  funds  subscribed  there- 
for at  the  time  the  contract  is  let  be  ample  to  erect  and 
enclose  the  same,  and  put  it  in  a  condition  to  be  preserved 
from  injury  by  the  elements,  even  though  there  be  not 

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Third  Crisal  Period 

sufficient  funds  to  finish  all  the  interior.  But  in  such 
case  no  more  shall  be  contracted  for  than  there  are  funds 
to  pay  for. 

"3.  To  put  all  rebuilding  and  work  connected  with  re- 
building under  contract  to  a  reliable  party  or  parties,  and 
under  specifications  plain  and  comprehensible  with  for- 
feitures for  failure  to  perform  the  contracts." 

The  committee  decided  to  utilize  the  old  foundation 
and  to  erect  a  single  large  building  as  before,  but  with 
improved  outside  plans  and  inside  arrangements.  The 
contract  was  let  to  Mr.  W.  F.  Gruppe,  of  Toledo,  Iowa, 
and  he  pushed  the  building  with  such  vigor  and  effective- 
ness that  portions  could  be  used  for  school  purposes  in 
the  fall. 

It  was  the  avowed  intention  of  the  authorities  to  avoid 
contracting  any  new  debt  in  rebuilding,  yet  they  were 
indirectly  led  into  it  in  spite  of  themselves.  The  pressing 
need  for  the  new  building  led  to  hurrying  it  on  to  com- 
pletion the  first  season.  By  the  time  the  building  was 
enclosed,  the  notes,  pledges,  and  cash  secured  amounted  to 
about  $40,000,  less  than  a  third  of  it  being  paid  in.  At 
that  time  a  heavy  mortgage  was  placed  on  the  building 
and  campus  by  assigning  the  insurance  and  by  offering  as 
security  the  signatures  of  thirty-six  good  friends  of  the 
College.  This  note,  known  as  the  Mary  J.  Spensley  note, 
is  the  one  that  some  years  later,  when  financial  embar- 
rassments were  piling  upon  the  College,  caused  so  much 
distress  by  threatening  to  bankrupt  the  men  of  small 
means  who  had  attached  their  names  to  it,  thereby  becom- 
ing responsible  for  its  payment.  The  note  was  reduced 
by  partial  payments  at  different  times,  until  there  re- 
mained the  sum  of  ten  thousand  dollars  which  was  not 
paid  until  January  18,  1910. 

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Western — Leander-Clark  College 

It  is  noticeable  that  every  strenuous  and  successful 
financial  campaign  through  which  the  College  has  gone  has 
been  followed  by  an  awakened  interest  in  the  College  and 
an  increased  attendance.  The  second  year  after  the  fire, 
and  immediately  after  the  canvass  of  the  territory  for 
funds  with  which  to  rebuild,  the  enrollment  reached  the 
highest  number  it  ever  attained.  The  internal  life  of 
the  school  at  this  period  was  vigorous  and  wholesome,  but 
destined  to  decline  a  few  years  later.  The  literary  socie- 
ties fitted  up  and  furnished  elegant  rooms  for  themselves 
on  the  third  floor  of  the  new  building  and  entered  upon 
a  period  of  prosperous  activity.  The  Y.  M.  C.  A.  and 
Y.  W.  C.  A.  secured  a  room  for  their  meetings  and  en- 
joyed a  period  of  much  spiritual  power  and  growth  under 
the  guidance  of  a  few  most  earnest  and  capable  leaders. 

The  faculty  at  this  time  contained  a  number  of  strong 
men  and  women.  A  great  loss  had  been  sustained  in  the 
departure  of  Professor  Loos  to  take  the  chair  of  Political 
Science  in  the  State  University  of  Iowa,  and  of  Miss  M. 
Alice  Dickson,  first  incumbent  of  the  chair  of  Greek  in 
Western  College,  to  become  the  wife  of  Professor  Loos. 
By  a  strange  coincidence  the  departure  of  these  two  oc- 
curred in  the  early  evening  of  the  very  night  on  which  the 
destructive  fire  came,  and  their  going  left  a  touch  of 
sadness  and  depression  upon  the  spirits  of  the  College 
community  that  rendered  them  more  susceptible  to  the 
greater  depression  the  morning  brought. 

President  Mills  soon  turned  from  field  work  to  the 
more  congenial  duties  of  the  class  room.  His  office  gave 
him  the  chair  of  Mental  and  Moral  Philosophy,  a  field  for 
which  he  was  peculiarly  well  fitted  both  by  training  and 
by  temperament.  He  was  a  born  logician  and  thinker, 
and  had  disciplined  himself  by  profound  study  of  philo- 

200 


Third  Crisal  Period 

sophical  subjects.  His  magnificent  personal  appearance,  his 
dignified  bearing,  and  judicial  utterance  gave  his  opinions 
great  weight,  though  he  often  failed  to  reach  down  to 
where  the  students  daily  lived  and  to  realize  with  quick 
human  sympathy  the  student's  matter-of-fact  problems 
and  daily  needs.  He  won  the  highest  esteem  and  admira- 
tion of  his  pupils,  but  did  not  quite  enlist  their  sponta- 
neous love  and  adoration.  President  Mills  recoiled  from 
the  material  problems  and  endless  perplexities  inseparably 
connected  with  the  presidency,  and  so  resigned  that  office 
after  three  years  and  gave  himself  wholly  to  class-room 
work  for  one  year,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  was 
elected  Bishop  by  the  General  Conference  of  his  Church, 
an  exalted  office  in  which  he  soon  took  eminent  rank,  and 
in  which  he  continued  until  his  death,  September  16,  1909. 
Professor  Beal  continued  as  Professor  of  Natural 
Science  and  vice  president  until  1891  and  endeared  him- 
self still  further  to  the  students.  When  President  Mills 
resigned  in  1892,  Professor  Beal  was  called  back  from 
his  medical  studies  to  take  the  presidency  of  the  College, 
which  office  he  held  for  one  year.  Professor  H.  W. 
Ward,  already  Professor  of  Latin,  was  given  the  Greek 
also  on  the  resignation  of  Miss  Dickson  at  the  end  of  the 
fall  term  of  1889;  he  continued  both  subjects  until  the 
general  break  up  in  1893.  Professor  L.  F.  John  came 
from  graduate  study  at  Yale  to  take  the  Chair  of  English 
in  Western  made  vacant  by  the  elevation  of  Professor 
Mills  to  the  presidency;  he  remained  but  one  year,  and 
then  went  on  to  the  ministry,  a  work  for  which  he  had 
especially  prepared  himself.  Professor  W.  S.  Reese 
came  in  1889  as  Professor  of  Mathematics,  and  brought 
to  the  department  a  tireless  industry  and  great  strength. 
He  was  later  transferred  to  the  new  Chair  of  Pedagogy, 

201 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

and  also  was  made  vice  president  of  the  College.  He 
was  one  of  the  vigorous  influences  of  his  day.  Professor 
B.  M.  Long,  already  as  College  Pastor,  and  member  of 
the  Executive  Committee,  so  closely  identified  with 
the  interests  of  the  school,  became  Professor  of  Eng- 
lish in  1890,  and  held  the  position,  with  one  year's 
leave  of  absence,  until  1893.  Spotless  in  personal 
habits,  charming  in  personality,  pure  and  wholesome 
in  ideals,  a  winning  teacher,  he  added  much  to  the 
worth  of  the  College  in  those  days.  During  the 
year  of  Professor  Long's  absence,  his  place  was  sup- 
plied by  Professor  W.  T.  Jackson,  first  graduate  of 
the  College,  a  man  of  varied  and  minute  scholarship.  He 
brought  to  the  later  days  not  only  the  early  traditions  of 
Western,  but  also  something  of  the  spirit  of  Michigan  and 
Yale  from  his  long  studies  in  these  universities.  Miss 
Josephine  Johnson  came  in  1891,  directly  from  advanced 
study  in  Berlin,  Germany,  to  be  Professor  of  Modern 
Languages  for  two  years ;  she,  too,  represented  the  older 
traditions  of  the  College  with  extended  modern  training 
and  culture  added.  At  the  same  time  came  Professor 
E.  A.  Zumbro,  research  student  in  chemistry  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  Munich ;  he  had  been  earlier  in  the  University 
of  Michigan.  He  was  a  tower  of  strength  physically 
and  mentally.  Professor  J.  M.  Eppstein,  director  of  the 
Conservatory  of  Music,  a  hustling  man  of  affairs  as  well 
as  a  capable  music  teacher,  brought  the  music  department 
up  to  a  high  degree  of  efficiency  and  prosperity.  Idah 
Tracy  Eppstein,  a  dramatic  reader  of  much  skill,  carried 
the  work  in  Elocution  one  step  nearer  its  establishment  as 
a  permanent  part  of  the  College.  Professor  E.  F.  War- 
ren, so  surpassingly  successful  as  Principal  of  the  Com- 
mercial Department,  was  finally  transferred  to  the  col- 

202 


Third  Crisal  Period 

legiate  faculty  as  Professor  of  Mathematics,  in  which 
position  he  was  equally  excellent.  He  was  also  made 
college  treasurer  and  bookkeeper,  and  brought  his  expert 
knowledge  of  accounts  and  his  orderly  grasp  of  business 
details  to  the  aid  of  the  College's  financial  records. 

The  College  has,  during  all  its  history,  been  fortunate 
in  securing  teachers  whose  talents  and  qualifications  made 
them  worth  more  than  the  meager  salary  offered  meas- 
ured. At  a  few  special  periods  the  faculty  has  been  re- 
markable for  the  excellent  natural  ability,  extended  train- 
ing, delightful  personality,  and  sterling  character  of  a 
large  part  of  its  members  of  that  time.  The  period  now 
presented  is  one  of  that  kind.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that 
the  College  had  been  too  often  a  kind  of  training  school 
to  fit  teachers  for  better  positions  in  other  colleges  and 
universities.  Fortunately  some  of  the  best  men  and  most 
successful  teachers  have  remained  a  reasonably  long 
period  with  the  school. 

In  a  condensed  history,  such  as  this,  it  is  impossible  to 
present  at  any  length  the  personnel  of  the  student  body 
at  any  period.  A  few  whose  shadows  by  some  lucky 
chance  have  reached  down  through  time,  or  whose  person- 
alities by  like  lucky  chance  have  lingered  in  the  historian's 
memory  receive  personal  mention.  There  was  Jerry 
George,  older  than  the  average  student,  serious-minded, 
a  power  in  debate,  with  a  gift  of  public  speech  already 
well  developed — a  foretaste  of  his  later  years  as  lyceum 
speaker.  There  was  Erwin  Runkle,  keen  of  intellect, 
quiet  of  speech,  modestly  aspiring,  good  material  for  the 
eastern  university  to  work  upon.  There  was  that  famous 
Philo  Quartet,  Wilbur  Little,  John  Riggs,  Rollin  Shatto, 
and  Will  Smith,  whose  "Dutch  Company"  always  brought 
down   the   house — a   jolly   quartette   whose   overflowing 

203 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

spirits  enlivened  class  room  and  athletic  field.  A  touch 
of  sadness  reawakens  with  the  memory  of  John  Riggs — 
athlete,  humorist,  and  royal  comrade ;  memory  of  the  al- 
most fatal  ending  of  an  hour's  sport  with  target  gun,  and 
of  the  anxious  weeks  of  nursing  him  back  to  strength 
again.  And  Will  Schell,  hard  worker,  somewhat  grim 
and  solemn,  with  a  gift  for  trenchant  composition  and 
effective  speech.  Also  Arthur  Stratton,  deliberate  in 
movement  and  in  speech,  but  kindling  at  times  to  genuine 
eloquence  and  power.  Then  there  was  Sam  Stouffer, 
spare  of  build,  methodical  in  habits,  minutely  accurate  in 
scholarship,  a  persistent  champion  of  any  cause  to  which 
he  was  attached,  especially  of  his  literary  society ;  and 
Frank  Stouffer,  with  his  mathematical  turn  of  mind  and 
a  pair  of  nimble  feet  that  no  one  else  could  overtake — 
and  there  were  famous  field  meets  in  those  days.  And 
there  was  Willis  Warren,  fair-haired,  sunny-eyed,  smiling- 
faced,  genial  and  companionable,  and  withal  a  good  stu- 
dent and  a  pleasing  public  speaker.  And  Howard 
Everett,  kind-hearted,  impulsive,  and  possessed  of  an 
elemental  eloquence.  And  there  was  Jennie  Fearer, 
serious  minded  and  independent,  a  leader  in  the  Y.  W. 
C.  A.,  and  an  influence  for  righteousness  in  the  school. 
The  image  of  W.  O.  Harper  returns  most  persistently  in 
his  role  of  leading  two  class  songs,  one  in  his  Junior  year, 
a  bit  of  good-natured  banter  directed  at  the  Seniors  and 
particularly  at  the  numerous  preachers  in  the  class :  "The 
rest  of  them  don't  'mount  to  much,  'mount  to  much" ; 
the  other  in  his  Senior  year,  a  song  that  became  a  kind  of 
ceremony  introducing  all  class  meetings  and  sung  with 
great  unction :  "There  were  three  crows  sat  on  a  tree, 
And  they  were  black  as  black  could  be."  Charley  Brew- 
baker  came  and  went  about  his  work,  alert  and  earnest, 

204 


Third  Crisal  Period 

somewhat  gifted  in  multiplying  words  and  occasionally 
showing  a  flashing  hint  of  his  later  successes.  Then  there 
were  the  Keplers,  Mai  and  Dick,  ready  either  for  a  frolic 
or  a  serious  task — preferably  a  frolic — irrepressible  in 
the  parliamentary  practice  hour  of  the  literary  society, 
and  foremost  in  wholesome  out-door  athletics.  But  the 
student  who,  perhaps  more  than  any  one  else  radiated  his 
contagious  enthusiasm  and  undying  loyalty  into  the  life 
of  the  school,  was  I.  N.  Cain,  the  big-hearted  optimist. 
Due  mostly  to  his  influence,  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  of  his  day 
reached  a  degree  of  efficiency  for  good  and  a  power  for 
spirituality  seldom,  if  ever,  equalled  in  the  history  of  the 
organization.  He  was  the  stuff  of  which  to  make  either  a 
benevolent  prince  or  a  great-souled  martyr.  One  cannot 
think  of  him  without  thinking  also  of  the  one  who  joined 
her  life  to  his  and  with  him  suffered  martyrdon  at  the 
hands  of  those  to  whom  she  ministered  most  tenderly. 
Mary  Mutch  was  ever  quiet,  modest,  true,  too  earnest  to 
be  ever  very  gay,  too  eager  to  be  ever  idle. 

While  the  internal  affairs  of  the  College  were  unfolding 
satisfactorily  in  the  main,  financial  matters  were  grad- 
ually approaching  a  crisis  that,  even  before  it  came,  began 
to  cast  depressing  influence  upon  the  internal  life.  In 
spite  of  all  that  could  be  done  to  hinder  it,  the  rebuilding 
entailed  a  considerable  debt  to  augment  the  already  appal- 
ling obligations  of  the  College.  Rebuilding  and  contin- 
gent notes  were  paid  in  slowly,  and  at  the  same  time  the 
College  obligations  were  falling  due  almost  constantly. 
Often  the  only  way  to  pay  a  pressing  claim  was  to  borrow 
money  from  some  new  source,  perhaps  enough  to  cover 
both  interest  and  principal.  Then  came  the  depressing 
financial  conditions  that  preceded  the  ruinous  panic  of 
1893  and  1894.    The  general  money  markets  became  more 

205 


Western — Lc and er -Clark  College 

and  more  alarmed  and  drew  in  their  currency.  It  became 
increasingly  difficult  for  even  the  soundest  business  con- 
cerns to  find  money  with  which  to  finance  their  enter- 
prises. The  College  soon  found  itself  unable  to  borrow 
any  money  from  any  source,  and  creditors  were  becoming 
daily  more  insistent.  The  College  authorities  were 
driven  to  their  wit's  end.  Salaries  of  teachers  and  officers 
were  badly  in  arrears,  and  payments  for  current  expenses 
had  to  go  by  default.  A  spirit  of  discontent  and  hope- 
lessness pervaded  the  whole  school  community.  The 
climax  came  at  the  end  of  the  school  year  in  June,  1893. 
So  acute  had  become  the  general  feeling  of  depression 
«ind  despair  that  faculty  and  teachers  sent  in  their  resig- 
nations wholesale.  Of  the  regular  College  faculty  every 
professor  handed  in  a  formal  resignation ;  Professor 
Reese  alone  afterward  consenting  to  reconsider  and  allow 
his  name  to  appear  for  reelection.  Naturally  a  deep 
gloom  settled  over  the  College  community.  The  Board, 
harassed  and  perplexed  before,  were  now  filled  with  con- 
sternation and  dismay.  As  soon  as  the  students  realized 
the  significance  of  what  was  taking  place,  they,  too,  shared 
the  feeling  of  dismay;  a  few  boys  with  a  grim  sense  of 
humor  tolled  the  bell  to  betoken  that  the  College  was  dead. 
Other  scenes  more  pleasing  to  the  memory  were  enacted 
at  that  time.  The  close  of  a  college  year  with  its  sever- 
ing of  friendships  and  breaking  of  associations  is  always 
a  time  of  tenderness.  At  this  particular  time  teachers 
and  pupils  felt  that  the  time  for  inevitable  and  wholesale 
separation  had  come,  and  in  consequence  the  kindlier 
feelings  of  our  better  human  nature  came  to  the  surface 
and  found  expression  in  word  and  deed.  More  than  once 
after  the  last  written  examination  was  finished  and  the 
pupils  had  gone,  leaving  the  teacher  sitting  dejectedly 

206 


Third  Crisal  Period 

before  a  stack  of  examination  papers,  a  class  filed  back 
into  the  room,  a  spokesman  at  their  head  to  present  to 
their  teacher  a  book  or  picture  as  a  token  of  esteem,  ac- 
companied by  words  of  appreciation  too  spontaneous,  too 
sincere,  too  frankly  tender  and  generous  to  bear  any  other 
use  than  to  be  treasured  in  the  heart  forever. 

The  next  two  or  three  years  showed  the  almost  inde- 
structibility of  an  institution  such  as  Western  College. 
Individual  life  would  surely  have  gone  out  under  so  great 
stress  and  strain.  The  trustees,  however,  had  no  inten- 
tion of  giving  up ;  they  planned  for  finances  by  electing 
T.  D.  Adams  general  financial  manager  and  L.  H.  Bufkin 
and  George  Miller  soliciting  agents ;  they  cast  about  for 
some  one  to  take  the  presidency  of  the  school  and  others 
to  constitute  the  faculty. 

Realizing  the  vast  importance  of  the  College  to  the 
Church  in  the  northwest,  Bishop  Kephart  hurried  to 
Toledo  to  give  the  benefit  of  his  wise  counsel,  as  he  had 
done  so  often  before.  Bishop  Mills  was  already  here  and 
helped  with  his  counsel.  After  some  refusals  and  much 
deliberation  a  faculty  was  at  last  formed.  As  these 
people  bridged  a  dangerous  chasm  and  kept  the  school 
alive  until  others  could  come  to  the  rescue,  they  deserve 
special  mention  in  this  history.  They  were :  A.  P.  Funk- 
houser,  President  and  Professor  of  Philosophy;  W.  S. 
Reese,  Vice  President  and  Professor  of  Mathematics; 
W.  D.  Stratton,  Professor  of  Natural  Science;  A.  C. 
Streich,  Professor  of  Ancient  Languages ;  Belle  Schelling, 
Professor  of  English  Literature  and  History ;  Annie  Dell 
LeFevre,  Professor  of  Modern  Languages ;  and  J.  B. 
Chase,  Professor  of  Biblical  Literature.  The  teachers  in 
the  adjunct  departments  were:  Hattie  Williams,  Director 
of  the  Conservatory;  Delia  Black,  Assistant;  Theodore 

207 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

Rude,  Stringed  Instruments;  E.  W.  Logan,  Principal  of 
the  College  of  Commerce;  S.  E.  Clapp,  Instructor  in 
Shorthand  and  Typewriting ;  and  Flora  Wonser,  Instruc- 
tor in  Painting. 

The  crisis  that  was  upon  the  College  reached  its  climax 
with  the  close  of  the  school  year  in  June,  1894.  In  many 
ways  the  situation  was  most  distressing.  Attendance  had 
fallen  off  materially,  especially  in  the  four  college  classes, 
though  the  total  enrollment  for  the  year  speaks  volumes 
for  the  loyalty  of  both  students  and  their  parents;  the 
temper  of  the  student  body,  however,  was  marked  by  dis- 
couragement and  discontent,  and  but  little  more  was 
needed  to  produce  disintegration.  The  general  finances 
of  the  country  were  in  a  deplorable  state;  labor  strikes 
were  wide  spread  and  attended  by  dire  consequences; 
banking  houses  and  business  firms  had  failed  by  hundreds 
and  thousands ;  money  for  any  new  enterprise  was  almost 
impossible  to  obtain. 

Under  the  circumstances  the  finances  of  the  College 
were  about  as  bad  as  they  could  be.  It  was  impossible 
to  make  any  headway  against  the  old  debt,  and  at  the 
same  time  interest  due  and  excess  of  expenses  over  in- 
comes added  about  eight  thousand  dollars  more  during 
the  year.  Some  of  the  creditors  of  the  College  were  tak- 
ing their  claims  to  the  courts  for  adjustment.  Friends  of 
the  College  who  had  signed  the  $25,000  mortgage  note,  or 
had  gone  security  on  other  notes,  were  in  danger  of  being 
forced  to  pay.  The  situation  that  faced  the  Board  at  its 
June  meeting  was  not  a  pleasant  one  to  contemplate. 

When  the  roll  was  called  at  the  first  meeting,  June  11, 
the  good  men  and  true  who  responded  to  their  names 
were:  George  Miller,  representing  Des  Moines  Confer- 
ence ;  W.  I.  Beatty,  D.  Miller,  and  L.  B.  Hix,  representing 

208 


Third  Crisal  Period 

Iowa  Conference;  J.  H.  Richards,  representing  the- Wis- 
consin Conference;  J.  P.  Wilson,  representing  Colorado 
Conference ;  A.  M.  Beal,  R.  E.  Williams,  and  T.  D.  Wil- 
cox, representing  the  Alumni  Association;  and  S.  R. 
Lichtenwalter,  trustee-at-large.  C.  Wendle  and  D.  C. 
Overholser,  from  Rock  River  Conference,  came  in  later 
and  took  their  seats.  W.  H.  Withington  and  H.  J. 
Stiger  were  elected  trustees-at-large  to  fill  vacancies  in 
that  representation,  and,  being  present,  took  their  seats. 
These  are  the  men  that  had  to  grapple  with  the  mighty 
task  of  saving  a  sinking  cause.  In  the  number  will  be 
found  the  names  of  men  who  had  already  borne  the  brunt 
of  many  severe  conflicts  in  behalf  of  the  College,  some  of 
whom  are  still  mainstays  in  everything  that  looks  toward 
the  welfare  of  the  school. 

Besides  the  members  of  the  Board,  M.  S.  Drury,  solic- 
iting agent,  was  present  to  give  his  official  help  and  to 
furnish  counsel  out  of  his  long  connection  with  the  Col- 
lege. Dr.  E.  R.  Smith  and  W.  F.  Johnston,  long  members 
of  the  Executive  Committee,  were  present  with  their 
intimate  knowledge  of  all  the  details  pertaining  to  the 
business  of  the  College.  Many  visitors  were  present, 
drawn  here  by  their  intense  interest  in  the  College,  most 
of  whom  assisted  the  various  committees;  among  these 
were,  Dr.  A.  W.  Drury,  John  Lichtenwalter,  C.  A.  Ben- 
son, Abraham  Lichtenwalter,  D.  H.  Kurtz,  I.  K.  Statton, 
D.  W.  Proffitt,  W.  D.  Hartsough,  and  R.  L.  Hagerty. 

General  Financial  Agent  T.  D.  Adams  had  died  April 
6,  1894,  and  his  sickness  and  death  had  necessarily  left 
the  business  of  the  College  in  a  somewhat  confused  con- 
dition. The  following  item  from  the  report  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  Ways  and  Means  shows  to  what  extremity  the 
Board  was  driven : 

209 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

"In  view  of  the  confusion  in  the  finances  of  the  College, 
due  in  part  to  the  death  of  the  financial  manager  and  diffi- 
culties arising  from  the  general  financial  stringency,  we 
kindly  ask  the  sureties  on  the  $25,000  mortgage  note  and 
the  sureties  on  any  other  pressing  claim  to  meet  the  inter- 
est now  due  and  unpaid,  such  payment  to  in  turn  be  re- 
paid by  the  College;  W.  H.  Withington  to  confer  with 
said  sureties  with  reference  to  said  object." 

One  cause  for  encouragement  amid  the  general  depres- 
sion was  found  in  the  progress  already  made  on  the  plan 
inaugurated  two  years  before,  and  known  as  the  1892 
Fund.  The  plan  proposed  was  to  raise  $35,000  with  which 
to  meet  the  pressing  claims  against  the  College,  the  donors 
to  this  fund  to  receive  certificates  in  Western  College  in 
proportion  to  the  amount  donated,  and  when  the  fund  was 
completed  to  organize  themselves  into  a  stock  company, 
which,  through  a  Board  of  Directors,  should  control  the 
business  of  the  College.  The  agents  reported  that  $21,543 
had  been  pledged  toward  this  amount,  and  the  Board, 
realizing  that  this  was  the  only  ray  of  hope,  resolved  to 
push  the  canvass  with  all  possible  vigor.  How  desper- 
ately in  earnest  the  Board  was  may  be  gleaned  from  the 
following  report  from  a  special  committee  of  five  ap- 
pointed for  the  purpose  of  devising  methods  of  pro- 
cedure. 

"We  recommend: 

"1.  That  the  canvass  for  subscriptions,  begun  in  the 
Board  meeting  yesterday,  be  urged  forward  here  and  now 
among  those  in  attendance  at  this  commencement  occa- 
sion. Money  now  subscribed  in  the  largest  amounts  pos- 
sible may  determine  the  success  of  the  movement. 

"2.  That  Rev.  D.  Miller,  Mrs.  Edith  Baker,  and  Rev. 
W.  I.  Beatty  be  a  central  committee  to  act  along  with  the 

210 


Third  Crisal  Period 

Executive  Committee  of  the  College  in  directing  the 
efforts  of  others  and  assisting  in  making  the  plan  adopted 
by  the  Board  a  success. 

"3.  That  Sabbath  schools,  Young  People's  societies, 
and  individual  congregations  be  asked  to  make  special 
contributions  and  take  special  subscriptions  in  this  time  of 
urgent  need. 

"4.  That  Airs.  L.  D.  Williams,  A.  M.  Beal,  and  C.  R. 
Shatto  be  a  special  committee  to  solicit  subscriptions  from 
the  alumni  and  former  students  in  general,  and  enlist  their 
effective  cooperation. 

"5.  That  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  College  be 
a  special  committee  to  secure  subscriptions  from  the  citi- 
zens of  Toledo  and  the  friends  of  the  College  in  neighbor- 
ing places. 

"6.  That  we  request  every  member  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees,  every  presiding  elder,  and  every  pastor  in  the 
cooperating  territory  to  make  himself  a  committee  of  one 
to  make  an  unusual  effort  in  securing  funds  in  the  present 
emergency ;  also,  that  the  students  be  appealed  to  to  aid 
with  their  enthusiasm  and  determination  in  relieving 
Western  College  from  its  burdens,  and  in  making  it  in 
equipment  and  attendance  of  students  what  all  so  much 
desire. 

"7.  That  Prof.  A.  C.  Streich,  Rev.  S.  T.  Beatty,  Miss 
Jennie  Fearer,  and  other  suitable  persons  be  especially 
commissioned  to  act  under  the  direction  of  the  Central 
Committee  in  securing  funds  and  subscriptions,  all  ex- 
penses incurred  to  be  paid  by  the  College." 

When  it  came  to  securing  a  faculty  for  next  year,  the 
trustees  faced  another  dilemma.  It  was  plain  that  mat- 
ters could  not  go  on  as  they  had  been,  and  so  it  was  re- 
solved that  teachers  must  be  found  who  would  be  willing 

211 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

to  run  the  school  on  its  regular  incomes  supplemented  by 
whatever  donations  might  be  made  for  that  purpose. 
Only  one  teacher,  Edgar  U.  Logan,  Director  of  the  Col- 
lege of  Commerce,  was  found  available  at  this  time,  and 
the  Board  adjourned  to  meet  in  special  session,  July  10, 
1894. 

The  situation  was  serious  indeed,  but  there  was  evident 
a  rising  determination  to  meet  the  emergency  manfully. 
The  faint-hearted  may  quail  before  great  difficulties,  but 
brave  souls  are  only  stirred  to  more  heroic  efforts ;  so  it 
was  now.  The  better  spirit  of  faith  and  courage  was 
voiced  by  W.  I.  Beatty,  whose  money  contributions, 
though  magnificent  when  measured  by  his  ability,  did  not 
make  a  very  great  amount,  but  whose  services  in  devotion, 
and  solicitude,  and  love  were  worth  more  than  any  money 
could  measure.  Falling  into  measured  strains,  as  he 
does  sometimes  in  moments  of  high  emotional  intensity, 
he  flung  this  ringing  challenge  at  the  frowning  future : 

"Western  College  Shall  Not  Die." 
Western  College  is  the  cry, 
Joyful  note,  just  let  it  fly, 
As  a  pean  in  the  sky, 
Western  College  shall  not  die. 

Sing,  ye  patriot  workers,  sing, 
Make  the  mighty  welkin  ring, 
Send  through  all  the  land  and  cry 
Western  College  shall  not  die. 

Sing  aloud  the  battle  cry, 
Make  it  reach  the  very  sky, 
By  the  throne  that  is  on  high 
Western  College  shall  not  die. 

212 


Chapter  XI. 

president  bookwalter  elected.  plan  of  opera- 
tion, faculty  secured.  financial  situation, 
internal  growth.  debt  paying  campaign.  lean- 
der  clark's  proposition. 

The  inauguration  of  a  movement  of  momentous  import, 
of  the  turning  of  the  tide  in  the  destiny  of  an  individual, 
or  of  an  institution,  often  rests  upon  the  intiative  of  a 
few  earnest  souls.  The  conferences  of  John  and  Charles 
Wesley  and  their  two  companions  in  a  student's  room  at 
old  Oxford  University  led  to  the  spiritual  awakening  that 
revolutionized  the  spirit  of  Protestantism ;  the  now  fam- 
ous haystack  prayer  meeting  by  a  little  band  of  students 
from  Williams  College  started  one  of  the  farthest  reach- 
ing forces  of  modern  Christendom,  the  Student  Volunteer 
Movement.  A  somewhat  similar  meeting,  in  Dayton, 
Ohio,  in  the  summer  of  1894,  held  almost  as  great  signifi- 
cance for  the  destiny  of  Western  College.  Three  alumni, 
M.  R.  Drury,  A.  W.  Drury,  and  Lewis  Bookwalter,  and 
John  Dodds,  a  royal  friend  of  the  College,  knowing  that 
some  one  must  go  to  the  rescue,  met  to  hold  an  earnest 
conference  over  the  matter.  With  a  leader  who  com- 
bined in  himself  devotion  to  the  College,  intensified  by  a 
profound  knowledge  of  its  needs,  experience  in  shaping 
educational  policies  and  practical  sagacity  of  the  highest 
order,  the  College  had  a  chance  against  odds  of  ultimately 
succeeding.  The  task  was  one  to  appall  the  stoutest 
heart;  no  one  cared  to  be  commissioned  to  undertake  it. 
The  more  the  matter  was  discussed,  the  more  evident  it 
became  that  one  of  Western's  own  sons  should  answer 

213 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

her  call  in  this,  her  hour  of  great  need.  The  question 
went  around  the  little  circle,  "Why  don't  you  go?  and 
you?  and  you?"  And  straightway  each  began  to  make 
excuse,  esteeming  the  other  a  fitter  sacrifice  than  himself. 
Finally  the  choice  fell  upon  Lewis  Bookwalter,  and  he 
bowed  his  shoulders  to  receive  the  load. 

So  it  came  about  that  when  the  Board  of  Trustees  met 
in  special  session  at  Toledo,  July  10,  the  Committee  on 
Faculty  and  Nominations  reported  the  name  of  Rev. 
Lewis  Bookwalter  for  the  presidency,  and  the  nomination 
was  unanimously  and  eagerly  ratified  by  the  vote  of  the 
Board.  The  choice  was  a  happy  one  for  many  reasons. 
From  his  youth  up,  Doctor  Bookwalter  had  been  nurtured 
in  the  traditions  of  the  Church,  and  was  in  warmest  sym- 
pathy with  the  aspirations  of  the  Church  to  build  up  insti- 
tutions of  higher  learning.  His  father's  family  had  been 
enlisted  in  Western  College  from  the  founding,  and  in 
the  early  days  had  moved  to  Western  for  the  double 
purpose  of  serving  the  College  and  of  receiving  the  bene- 
fits it  offered.  He  had  imbibed  the  spirit  of  the  College 
through  the  intimate  experiences  of  a  student,  and  then, 
upon  graduation,  became  a  soliciting  agent  for  his  alma 
mater  for  one  year.  Then  for  six  more  years  he  was 
more  closely  identified  with  the  life  of  the  school  as 
Professor  of  Ancient  Languages  and  as  College  treasurer, 
in  which  latter  position  he  became  familiar  with  the  busi- 
ness affairs  of  the  College.  Later  he  gained  valuable 
administrative  experience  as  Principal  of  Edwards 
Academy  and  as  President  of  Westfield  College ;  still 
later  as  pastor  of  important  congregations  in  Dayton,  the 
center  of  the  denomination's  activities. 

The  choice  of  Professor  E.  F.  Warren  as  vice  president 
and   Professor  of   Mathematics   was   equally   fortunate. 

214 


President  Bookzvalter  Elected 

Professor  Warren  was  a  man  of  absolute  integrity  of 
character,  drawn  into  the  teaching  profession  by  pure  love 
of  the  work;  consequently  his  influence  over  youth  was 
most  wholesome  and  stimulating.  Furthermore,  his  thor- 
ough training  in  the  accurate  methods  of  solid  modern 
business  made  his  services  invaluable  in  straightening  out 
the  involved  affairs  of  the  College. 

The  plan  for  operating  the  school,  agreed  upon  jointly 
by  the  Board  and  President  Bookwalter,  had  in  it  some 
new  features.  Practically  the  whole  management,  exter- 
nal and  internal,  was  turned  over  to  the  president  and 
vice  president.  They,  with  the  assistance  of  a  committee 
from  the  Board  of  Trustees,  were  to  select  the  remainder 
of  the  faculty.  They  were  to  run  the  school  strictly  on 
its  incomes,  and  when  these  were  not  sufficient  to  pay 
salaries  in  full  the  teachers  were  to  receive  pro  rata  until 
the  incomes  were  exhausted  and  then  should  have  no 
further  claim  against  the  College.  This  provision, 
though  severe  on  the  teachers  by  putting  upon  them  the 
whole  risk  of  a  loss,  was  wise  under  the  circumstances, 
and  proved  so  successful  that  it  was  continued  until  the 
College  secured  its  large  permanent  endowment. 

The  sources  of  income  as  outlined  in  the  plan  were : 
Tuitions  in  the  College  of  Liberal  Arts  and  the  Academy, 
assessments  paid  annually  by  the  cooperating  confer- 
ences, special  funds  solicited  for  this  purpose,  proceeds 
from  the  boarding  halls,  and  rent  paid  in  the  form  of 
commissions  by  the  Conservatory  of  Music,  the  College 
of  Commerce,  and  other  adjunct  departments.  With 
these  incomes  the  faculty  was  to  run  the  school,  furnish 
fuel  and  janitor,  and  pay  themselves  without  incurring 
any  indebtedness  for  current  expenses.  This  plan  left 
the  agents  of  the  College  and  the  other  officers  of  the 

215 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

corporation  proper  free  to  devote  all  their  attention  to  the 
debt. 

At  the  July  10  meeting  the  general  financial  manager, 
Daniel  Miller,  serving  in  that  capacity  since  the  death 
of  T.  D.  Adams,  was  able  to  report  good  progress  on  the 
$35,000  fund.  The  Board  of  Trustees  then  fixed  Sep- 
tember 4,  1894,  as  the  date  for  completing  the  proposed 
fund,  and  requested  the  stockholders  under  said  fund  to 
meet  in  Toledo  on  September  4,  on  the  same  date  as  the 
adjourned  meeting  of  the  Board. 

Meanwhile  President  Bookwalter  was  busy  securing  a 
faculty  and  making  preparations  for  the  opening  of 
school  in  September.  The  plan  that  was  evolving  in  his 
mind  soon  came  to  rest  upon  two  immovable  propositions : 
First,  the  educational  standards  of  the  school  must  be 
raised  to  the  highest  rank  by  employing  university-trained 
teachers  for  the  heads  of  departments  and  by  making  the 
pay  of  teachers  the  matter  of  first  concern  with  the  man- 
agement ;  second,  the  debt  must  be  stopped  from  growing 
and  then  must  be  systematically  reduced  by  a  direct  and 
persistent  attack  in  the  spirit  of  Grant's  campaign  against 
Richmond.  As  a  first  step  in  this  program,  Arthur  Gray 
Leonard,  a  graduate  of  Oberlin  College,  and  later  a  post- 
graduate student  of  Johns  Hopkins  University,  was  se- 
lected as  Professor  of  Natural  Science,  and  Edward  L. 
Colebeck,  a  graduate  of  Northwestern  University  and 
graduate  student  of  the  University  of  Chicago,  was  chosen 
Professor  of  Ancient  Languages ;  these  were  men  of 
superior  scholarship  and  ability.  Annie  Dell  LeFevre, 
from  the  faculty  of  the  year  previous,  was  retained  as 
Professor  of  Modern  Languages,  and  W.  I.  Beatty  was 
appointed  instructor  in  Biblical  History.  August  Hailing 
was  secured  as  Director  of  the  Conservatory  of  Music, 

216 


President  Bookzvalter  Elected 

Flora  Wonser  as  instructor  in  Painting  and  Drawing,  and 
Edgar  U.  Logan  as  principal  of  the  College  of  Commerce. 

When  the  trustees  met  September  4,  General  Agent,  D. 
Miller  reported  that  the  full  amount  of  the  $35,000  fund 
had  been  pledged,  which  report  was  approved  "with  grate- 
ful rejoicings."  By  the  terms  of  the  pledges  the  fund  was 
to  be  available  for  paying  pressing  claims.  Steps  were 
taken  for  pushing  the  collection  of  these  pledges  with  all 
possible  vigor. 

A  committee,  appointed  to  ascertain  the  present  status 
of  the  debt,  found  : 

Notes  Against  the  College $67,049.11 

Delinquent  Interest 7,181 .66 

Due  Sundry  Persons 7,023 .  57 

Total $81,254.34 

Against  this  the  College  had  the  recently  pledged 
$35,000,  from  which,  however,  would  be  deducted  the 
necessary  shrinkage  on  such  pledges,  the  expenses  of 
collection,  and  the  interest  that  would  accrue  while  col- 
lections were  being  made.  At  any  rate,  the  situation  was 
improving  greatly,  and  all  turned  their  faces  toward  the 
new  school  year  with  a  look  of  expectancy  and  hope  such 
as  had  not  been  for  years. 

The  first  year  under  the  new  order  of  things  marked  a 
great  gain  in  every  particular.  What  the  year  accom- 
plished and  the  new  spirit  of  hope  those  accomplishments 
engendered  can  be  seen  from  the  following  editorial  cor- 
respondence published  in  the  Religious  Telescope,  June 
26,  1895: 

"The  eyes  of  the  entire  Church  have  recently  been 
turned   upon   Western   College.      They   should   be   kept 

217 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

there  for  a  time.  Not  with  anxious  query  as  to  whether 
it  shall  go  up  or  down,  but  rather  with  zealous  inquiry  as 
to  how  it  may  best  be  helped  in  its  upward  and  onward 
course.  That  it  has  entered  upon  such  a  course,  facts 
about  its  last  year's  work  and  its  recent  commencement 
well  attest.  May  a  few  such  facts  hereby  presented  by 
one  who  attended  this  commencement  just  closed,  and 
whose  business  there  made  it  necessary  for  him  to  know 
the  true  condition  of  the  institution,  tend  to  inspire  that 
interest  and  confidence  among  its  friends  and  patrons, 
and  its  ought-to-be  friends  and  patrons  which  it  needs  and 
deserves. 

"A  clear  June  morning  is  a  joy  almost  anywhere  in  our 
latitude.  It  is  a  superb  joy  in  Toledo,  Iowa.  The  credit 
of  this  must  be  divided  between  June  and  Toledo.  June 
furnishes  her  share  in  her  usual  bewitching  manner  dis- 
played elsewhere;  Toledo  hers  by  her  charming  location 
among  and  upon  a  picturesque  aggregation  of  gently- 
undulating  hills,  by  the  substantial  up-to-date  architecture 
of  its  neat,  well-painted  residences  and  public  buildings, 
by  its  well-kept  lawns,  by  its  fruitful  gardens,  by  its  pro- 
fusion of  flowers,  by  its  wild  birds  singing  in  its  native 
forest  trees,  and  last,  but  not  least,  by  its  classic  dignity, 
due  to  fourteen  years'  beneficent  influence  of  Western 
College. 

"Such  a  morning  was  June  9,  when  an  eager  congre- 
gation of  more  than  one  thousand  completely  filled  the 
capacious  auditorium  of  the  United  Brethren  Church. 
They  came  to  hear  the  baccalaureate  by  President  Book- 
waiter.  They  were  not  disappointed ;  Dr.  Bookwalter 
does  not  disappoint.  The  substance  of  the  sermon  was 
that  all  that  is  good  and  enduring  in  the  life  of  the 
individual  or  of  the  state  has  its  source  in  the  life  and 

218 


President  Bookivalter  Elected 

teachings  of  Jesus.  A  commendable  fraternal  spirit  was 
shown  by  the  pastors  of  the  other  churches,  who  were 
present  and  took  part  in  the  service,  making  it  a  union 
service.  A  special  feature  of  the  exercises  was  a  most 
beautiful  solo  by  Miss  Maria  Bookwalter,  of  Minneapolis, 
Minn.,  whose  rendition  of  both  the  words  and  the  soul 
of  the  song  one  seldom  hears  excelled. 

"On  Sunday  evening  an  earnest,  helpful  sermon  was 
delivered  by  Rev.  E.  W.  Curtis,  of  Des  Moines,  before 
the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  and  Y.  W.  C.  A.  of  the  College. 

On  Monday,  the  tenth,  the  Board  of  Trustees  met, 
Rev.  George  Miller,  D.D.,  of  Carlisle,  Iowa,  who  has  been 
its  efficient  president  for  fourteen  successive  years,  and 
who  was  again  reelected,  presiding.  The  Board  of  Di- 
rectors, elected  by  the  Donors'  Association,  and  given 
supervisory  jurisdiction  over  the  general  work  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees,  and  authority  to  propose  plans  and 
methods  as  to  the  financial  affairs  of  the  College,  met 
for  the  first  time  and  organized.  G.  M.  Miller,  of 
Chicago,  was  elected  president;  Hon.  W.  F.  Johnston,  of 
Toledo,  vice  president ;  and  Dr.  E.  R.  Smith,  of  Toledo, 
secretary. 

"The  investigations  and  deliberations  of  the  two  boards 
were  harmoniously  conducted,  and  the  results  gave  new 
hope  and  courage  to  all  the  friends  of  the  institution  who 
were  present.  The  former  showed  the  internal  affairs  of 
the  College  to  be  in  excellent  condition.  All  expenses  of 
the  year  were  met  by  tuition  and  other  sources  of  income, 
and  not  a  dollar  of  debt  was  incurred  in  the  conduct  of 
the  internal  affairs  of  the  College  for  the  year.  The  plan 
of  last  year,  which  gave  the  president  and  vice  president 
of  the  College  complete  control  of  the  internal  affairs  of 
the  institution,  all  salaries  and  incidental  expenses  to  be 

219 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

met  by  them  from  tuition  and  minor  sources  of  income, 
was  highly  satisfactory  to  both  the  faculty  and  the  boards, 
so  that  the  same  plan  was  adopted  for  the  coming  year, 
and  the  entire  faculty  was  reelected,  with  the  exception 
of  Miss  LeFevre,  of  the  Chair  of  Modern  Languages, 
who  resigned  for  reasons  external  to  her  connection  with 
the  College. 

"In  this  connection  it  should  be  said  that  President 
Book  waiter,  nobly  seconded  by  Vice  President  Warren, 
has  won  the  complete  confidence  of  the  old  friends  of  the 
College,  both  at  home  and  abroad,  and  made  many  new 
friends  for  it  by  his  able  administration  of  the  past  year, 
and  every  one  of  the  some  three  hundred  students  in 
attendance  goes  out  as  a  missionary  to  increase  the 
attendence  for  the  year  to  come.  This  confidence  is  well 
founded.  Doctor  Bookwalter  is  no  experiment.  The 
Church  has  known  and  honored  him  as  one  of  its  best 
ministers  and  educators  for  twenty  years  or  more,  and 
he  has  no  less  honored  the  Church.  No  encomiums 
upon  him  are  necessary.  The  efficient  work  of  Rev. 
W.  I.  Beatty,  D.D.,  College  pastor  and  instructor  in  Bible 
studies  in  the  College,  has  contributed  much  to  the  suc- 
cess of  the  past  year. 

"An  interesting  fact  in  connection  with  the  boards' 
investigations  as  to  the  external  affairs  of  the  College  is 
the  completion  during  the  year,  under  the  management  of 
Rev.  D.  Miller,  of  a  plan  to  reduce  the  College  debt, 
which  resulted  in  an  actual  paying  off  of  $18,000  of  in- 
debtedness, and  the  providing  of  $17,000  more  of  debt- 
paying  assets.  An  interesting  fact  connected  with  the 
deliberations  of  the  boards  was  the  probable  success  of  a 
new  plan  to  pay  off  a  debt  of  $25,000  during  the  next 
year,  a  proposition  of  some  wealthy  friends  of  the  Col- 

220 


President  Bookwalter  Elected 

lege,  who  are  standing  behind  this  debt,  having  been  made 
to  pay  their  proportion  of  it  at  once,  provided  the  other 
indorsers  would  do  the  same.  If  this  is  accomplished, 
Sinbad's  'Old  Man  of  the  Sea'  will  no  longer  ride  on  the 
shoulders  of  Western  College.  Free  from  this  burden, 
there  is  no  reason  why  it  should  not  rank  with  the  best 
institutions  of  Iowa,  both  in  attendance  and  equipment. 

"This  reminds  me  of  the  honors  the  Western  College 
boys  achieved  during  the  year  in  athletics  by  defeating 
'on  the  diamond'  the  representative  ball  players  of  every 
prominent  college  and  university  in  the  State  except  one. 
Physical  development  and  hygiene  are  accorded  their 
proper  place  in  the  institution,  and  the  College  gymnasium 
and  athletic  grounds  are  well  patronized  by  the  students 
of  both  sexes. 

"On  Monday  evening  the  four  senior  literary  societies 
gave  their  anniversary  entertainment,  which  was  a  suc- 
cess that  would  have  done  credit  to  any  institution  of 
learning.  Orations  were  delivered  by  Philo  W.  Drury, 
Alice  Harrison,  E.  A.  Elliott,  and  Ethel  Bookwalter, 
representing  the  Philopronean  Society,  Young  Ladies' 
Atheneum,  Young  Men's  Institute,  and  the  Calliopean 
Society,  respectively.  The  literary  society  esprit  de 
corps,  which  was  one  of  the  strong  features  of  the  Col- 
lege, which  some  of  us  well  remember  as  one  of  the  in- 
spirations of  our  college  days  at  old  Western  fifteen  or 
twenty  years  ago,  was  present  in  good  degree,  a  new 
phase  of  it  being  rather  vociferously  expressed  by  the 
young  men's  societies  concluding  the  ceremony  of  the 
presentation  of  the  society  diplomas  by  their  respective 
society  yells. 

"Tuesday  evening  was  devoted  to  the  alumni  banquet 
in  the  Opera  House,  which,  if  not  a  'feast  of  reason,' 

221 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

that  being  subordinate  on  such  an  occasion,  was  a  'flow 
of  soul,'  as  it  seemed  to  be  thoroughly  enjoyed  by  all  as 
a  social  affair. 

"President  Bookwalter  responded  in  a  happy  manner  to 
the  toast,  'Our  Alma  Mater,'  one  of  his  best  points  being 
the  displaying  of  a  $1,000  check  just  received,  to  be  in- 
vested in  the  College  where  it  would  do  the  most  good. 

"G.  M.  Miller  responded  to  'The  Alumnus  and  Social 
Problems,'  giving  a  brief  outline  of  the  principles  under- 
lying social  problems,  which  he  expects  to  present  more 
fully  before  the  students  of  the  College  some  time  during 
the  coming  year  in  a  series  of  lectures,  he  having  been 
elected  to  the  honorary  position  of  lecturer  on  sociology. 

"H.  M.  Rebok,  Indian  agent  at  Tama  Reservation,  and 
editor  of  the  Toledo  Democrat,  spoke  of  the  influence  of 
the  so-called  smaller  colleges  that  keep  near  the  people, 
comparing  it  with  that  of  those  that  cater  to  and  are 
dominated  by  plutocratic  influences. 

"Dr.  W.  I.  Beatty  responded  to  'Reminiscences,'  and 
revived  some  of  the  amusing  incidents  of  the  'days  of 
auld  lang  syne'  at  'Old  Western.' 

"The  graduating  exercises  took  place  Wednesday,  the 
twelfth,  at  10:30  a.m.  It  is  the  principal  event  of  the 
year  for  Toledo,  Tama,  and  the  surrounding  country; 
and,  as  usual,  the  United  Brethren  Church  was  filled  to 
overflowing.  The  graduating  class  representing  the  reg- 
ular courses  consists  of  six  very  promising  young  men, 
two  of  whom,  Messrs.  Slattery  and  Brooke,  are  ministers 
of  the  gospel,  and  of  some  considerable  experience  in 
their  calling. 

"J.  C.  Sanders  spoke  of  'Music  in  Our  Public  Schools' ; 
J.  K.  Coddington  of  'The  Unity  of  Science' ;  H.  E.  Slat- 
tery  of   'Success';   F.    E.   Brooke   of   'The  Jew   in   the 

222 


President  Bookzvalter  Elected 

World's  Drama';  S.  E.  Long  of  'Scientific  Immortality'; 
and  G.  E.  Porter  of  'Former  and  Reformer.'  The  length 
which  this  article  has  reached  forbids  any  digest  of  these 
orations.  It  is  enough  to  say  that  they  measured  up 
among  the  best  of  similar  efforts  in  the  history  of  the 
College,  and  were  in  matter  and  manner  complimentary 
to  the  institution  which  these  young  men  are  expected  to 
honor  by  their  life-work. 

"C.  F.  Peterson  and  Miss  Olive  Williams  were  gradu- 
ated in  the  normal  course,  and  a  large  class  received 
diplomas  from  the  College  of  Commerce.  Revs.  C.  R. 
Shatto  and  S.  T.  Beatty  received  the  degree  of  A.M. 
Excellent  music  was  furnished  throughout  by  Professor 
August  Hailing,  director  of  the  Conservatory  of  Music, 
assisted  by  accomplished  musicians,  whose  training  in  the 
Conservatory  was  a  satisfactory  index  of  its  success. 

"Taken  a  a  whole,  the  commencement  program  was  a 
success,  and  gave  good  evidence  that  Western  College  is 
up  to  date  in  spirit,  method,  and  action,  and  is  bound  to 
succeed.  The  speed  and  degree  of  this  success  will  de- 
pend much  upon  many  who  will  read  this  report.  Will 
they  be  a  sufficient  success  in  the  line  of  duty  to  help  now 
to  hasten  and  enlarge  the  success  of  Western  College?" 

The  story  of  the  next  seven  years  is  the  story  of  a 
heroic  struggle  more  stupendous  and  more  protracted 
than  often  falls  to  the  lot  of  one  institution  and  one  set 
of  men.  As  the  main  struggle  had  to  do  with  the  ex- 
ternal affairs  of  the  College— the  battle  with  the  mountain 
of  debt— it  will  be  well  first  to  trace  that  struggle  to  its 
grand  consummation,  and  then  to  recount  somewhat  of 
the  internal  life  during  the  same  period.  The  brunt  of 
that  long  battle  was  borne  by  President  Bookwalter,  who, 

223 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

through  the  greater  part  of  the  period,  was  financial  man- 
ager of  the  College,  sole  field  agent  and  solicitor,  and 
superintendent  of  the  internal  affairs  of  the  school.  The 
burdens  he  bore,  the  sleepless  nights  he  spent,  the  con- 
stant trying  of  a  courage  tenacious  as  tempered  steel,  are 
known  only  to  himself  and  to  a  few  of  those  nearest  to 
him ;  yet  he  would  not  have  succeeded  without  the  stead- 
fast support  of  such  men  as  Vice  President  Warren  and 
his  successor,  Vice  President  McClelland ;  as  the  stone- 
wall group  of  men  who  composed  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee— E.  R.  Smith,  W.  F.  Johnston,  S.  R.  Lichten- 
walter,  W.  H.  Withington,  J.  H.  Ross,  and  Daniel  Mc- 
Intyre;  as  George  Miller,  president  of  the  Board,  and  for 
a  short  time  soliciting  agent ;  as  Field  agent  N.  F.  Hicks 
for  the  last  three  years  of  the  debt  campaign ;  and  such 
members  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  as  W.  I.  Beatty,  John 
Shambaugh,  M.  R.  Drury,  and  many  others. 

The  best  idea  of  the  progress  of  the  campaign  can  be 
gathered  from  articles  written  in  the  heat  of  the  conflict, 
most  of  them  from  the  pen  of  President  Bookwalter. 

From  the  Religions  Telescope,  February  8,  1896: 

"Management  of  Western  College." 
"At  the  special  session  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  held 
March  28,  1895,  Rev.  D.  Miller,  the  general  financial 
manager,  reported  that  the  turning  of  the  so-called  '  '92 
Fund'  into  cash  and  notes  had  been  virtually  consum- 
mated. He  gave  it  as  his  opinion  and  that  of  those  in  the 
immediate  management  that  for  a  time  the  College  finan- 
ces could  be  conducted  without  a  salaried  financial  man- 
ager, and  he  accordingly  resigned  his  office.  The  financial 
management  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  president 
and  assistant  treasurer  of  the  College. 

224 


REV.  W.  I.  BEATTY,  D.D. 
Long  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 


PROFESSOR  E.  F.  WARREN 
Vice  President  and  Business  Manager. 


REV.  W.  S.  REESE,  D.D. 
Vice  President  two  years  and  Member  of 
the  Faculty  four  years. 


PROFESSOR  B.  F.  McCLELLAND 
Vice  President  from  1896  to  the  time  of 
his  death,  December  1900. 


REV.  L.  H.  BUFKIN 

General  Financial  Agent  nine  years  and 

Soliciting  Agent  five  years  more. 


REV.  N.  F.  HICKS 
Field  Secretary  through  the  Debt-paying 
Campaign. 


REV.  R.  E.  GRAVES 
Field  Secretary  through  the  Endowment 
Campaign. 


REV.  O.  G.  MASON 
Present  Field  Secretary. 


President  Bookwalter  Elected 

"At  the  regular  meeting  of  the  Board,  in  June,  it  was 
decided  to  continue  for  a  time  the  same  economic  policy, 
it  being  left  to  the  president  of  the  College  and  Executive 
Committee  to  determine  when  a  man  should  be  employed 
to  take  charge  of  the  finances.  It  was  thought  by  the 
committee  that  during  the  summer  and  early  fall  it  would 
not  be  wise  to  enter  upon  new  and  aggressive  plans  for 
raising  funds.  So,  since  last  March,  Professor  Warren 
and  I,  in  consultation  with  the  Executive  Committee,  have 
been  handling  the  financial  interests  of  the  College.  I 
may  say  that  it  seems  to  be  the  judgment  of  the  Execu- 
tive Committee  and  other  officers  that  the  finances  have 
been  managed  successfully. 

"But  the  time  has  now  come  when  the  best  interests  of 
the  College  call  for  a  man  to  give  himself  to  the  financial 
work.  For  some  time  we  have  been  looking  and  praying 
for  the  right  man.  I  trust  that  in  what  has  just  been 
done  in  filling  this  important  place,  both  the  committee 
in  calling  and  the  brother  in  responding  have  been 
divinely  led.  On  yesterday,  January  23,  the  Executive 
Committee  and  Rev.  George  Miller,  D.D.,  of  Carlisle, 
Iowa,  consummated  the  plan  by  which  he  is  engaged  to 
lead  in  the  financial  work.  He  is  for  the  present 
employed  to  work  under  the  direction  of  the  Executive 
Committee  up  to  the  time  of  the  meeting  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  in  June.  Until  that  time,  at  the  request  of  the 
pastors  of  his  district  whom  he  called  together  in  council, 
he  retains  his  present  relation  to  the  district,  the  work 
there  to  be  conducted  by  supply  under  his  direction. 

"Doctor  Miller  has  been  called  and  employed  as  presi- 
dent of  the  Board  of  Trustees  to  lead  in  this  time  of 
urgent  need  in  plans  and  efforts  to  relieve  the  College  of 
its  load  of  debt.     He  and  the  president  of  the  College  are 

225 


Western — Lectnder-Clark  College 

expected  to  join  in  this  task.  Plans  are  laid  for  moving 
immediately  in  the  work  of  securing  donations  for  the 
liquidation  of  the  debt.  Brother  Miller  will  enter  at 
once  upon  his  work. 

"The  College  authorities  feel  free  to  congratulate  the 
friends  and  patrons  of  the  College,  in  whose  behalf  they 
have  acted,  that  so  able  a  man  as  Mr.  Miller  has  been 
secured.  Dr.  Miller  is  a  man  of  large  experience  and  rec- 
ognized ability  as  a  manager  and  leader  in  church  affairs. 
He  has  been  president  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the 
College  for  sixteen  years.  He  needs  no  introduction  to 
our  people.  His  coming  to  this  place  at  this  time  will 
increase  confidence  and  add  to  the  inspiration  of  all  the 
friends  of  Western  College. 

"But  let  all  bear  in  mind  the  burdens  and  responsibilities 
which,  in  responding  to  this  call,  Brother  Miller  assumes. 
Well  may  he  have  hesitated,  and  thought,  and  asked  di- 
vine guidance  before  undertaking  this  Herculean  task. 
The  managing  and  liquidating  of  a  debt  of  $63,000  is  the 
work  in  hand.  To  succeed,  Doctor  Miller  must  have  the 
hearty  and  liberal  cooperation  of  all.  Especially  must 
our  men  of  means  respond  in  large  sums  to  his  appeals. 
It  is  believed  that  this  they  will  do.  Let  the  financial 
needs  of  Western  College  be  in  the  thought  and  prayer 
of  all  its  friends;  and  in  this  time  of  its  steady  and 
hopeful  advancement  let  all  be  inspired  to  join  in  promot- 
ing its  highest  welfare. 

"L.    BOOKWALTER." 

Religious  Telescope,  October  13,  1897: 

"a  noble,  heroic  effort. 
"Western  College  has  rolled  up  its  sleeves  and  gone  to 
work,  resolved  to  wipe  out  the  last  dollar  of  its  indebted- 

226 


President  Bookzvalter  Elected 

ness.  The  purpose  is  as  noble  as  the  undertaking  is  great 
and  important.  The  College  has  buildings,  grounds,  and 
equipment  worth  several  times  the  amount  of  its  indebt- 
edness. Then,  too,  it  is  manned  by  a  thoroughly  wide- 
awake faculty,  and  its  halls  are  well  filled  with  as  promis- 
ing a  set  of  students  as  grace  the  halls  of  any  institution 
in  any  State. 

"All  these  things  conspire  to  encourage  the  friends  of 
Christian  education  to  rally  right  royally  and  liberally  to 
the  great  work  of  lifting  the  debt.  It  can  be,  it  must  be, 
it  will  be  done.  Read  President  Bookwalter's  article  on 
page  15  of  this  week's  issue.  The  plan  he  outlines  is  well 
matured,  feasible,  practical,  and  his  whole  soul  is  in  the 
work.  Let  all  who  can  lift  a  pound  or  give  a  dollar 
throughout  the  cooperating  territory  rally  in  response 
to  his  bugle  call,  and  the  work  will  soon  be  done. 

"WESTERN    COLLEGE — LIQUIDATION    OF   DEBT. 

"First,  let  it  be  remembered  that  for  three  years  the 
College  has  been  run  upon  a  plan  that  has  prevented  any 
increase  of  its  debt  by  its  mere  running.  Its  income,  sup- 
plemented by  the  conference  assessments  and  temporary 
endowment,  has  met  the  running  expenses.  Here  it  should 
be  said  that  the  adding  of  another  member  to  the  faculty, 
made  necessary  by  the  internal  growth,  will  make  neces- 
sary also  an  increase  in  the  temporary  endowment  gifts 
by  friends  and  in  the  receipts  from  conference  assess- 
ments. Taken  all  together,  the  internal  condition  is 
healthy,  vigorous,  and  assuring. 

"But  the  matter  to  which  I  wish  to  call  the  special 
attention  of  the  friends  of  Western  College  is  the  present 
status  of  the  debt  and  the  plan  for  its  liquidation. 

227 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

"debt  statement. 
"The  total  debt  of  the  College,  in  round  numbers,  is 
$65,000.  This  sum  will  cover  every  dollar  of  its  present 
liabilities,  including  unpaid  interest.  This  debt  is  draw- 
ing seven  per  cent,  interest.  To  offset  this  the  College 
has  contingent  assets,  good  paper,  to  the  amount  of 
$20,000.  This  makes  us  a  net  debt  unprovided  for  of 
$45,000.  But  those  who  know  something  of  how  debts 
at  seven  per  cent,  interest  grow,  and  how  even  good 
college  assets  are  liable  to  shrink,  will  feel  that  to  provide 
fully  for  this  debt  we  should  raise  $50,000. 

"plan  for  providing  for  it. 

"It  will  be  remembered  that  aside  from  a  few  weeks' 
soliciting  done  eighteen  months  ago  by  Dr.  George  Miller, 
president  of  the  Board,  and  myself,  no  field  work  has  been 
done  for  more  than  three  years.  At  the  meeting  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees,  in  June  last,  it  was  decided  to  enter 
again  upon  the  work  of  liquidating  the  debt;  and  it  was 
the  action  of  the  Board  that  I  be  relieved  from  teaching 
for  the  year  that  I  might  give  my  time  more  fully  to  the 
financial  interests.  So  the  summer  campaign  for  stu- 
dents being  over,  I  am  now  entering  expressly  upon  the 
financial  work.     The  plan  is : 

"That  I  shall  have  the  cooperation  of  presiding  elders, 
pastors,  and  certain  laymen  in  making  the  canvass  for 
money ;  that  the  canvass  shall  be  chiefly  among  the  friends 
of  means,  but  among  others  also;  that  we  shall  aim  to 
secure,  if  possible,  ten  $1,000  donations,  twenty,  $500 
donations,  and  one  hundred  $100  donations,  which,  all 
together,  will  knock  the  center  out  of  this  debt;  that 
further  we  shall  aim  to  secure  a  number  of  gifts  from 
$2,000  to  $5,000,  as  well  as  many  donations  of  $200  and 

228 


President  Bookwalter  Elected 

$300,  and  of  $50  upward;  that  these  gifts  shall  be  in 
cash,  or  notes  at  seven  per  cent,  interest,  made  payable 
at  such  reasonable  time  and  in  such  payments  as  may  suit 
the  donors. 

"Such,  in  short,  is  the  situation,  and  such  the  plan  of 
work ;  and  upon  the  work  we  have  already  entered.  We 
have  made  a  start.  The  first  donor  was  our  esteemed 
Bishop  N.  Castle.  He  was  the  first  of  the  $100  donors. 
Church  Erection  Secretary  W.  M.  Weekley,  a  Rock 
River  man  and  former  trustee,  is  second  on  this  list.  A 
young  brother,  a  layman  in  Rock  River  Conference, 
starts  the  $500  list.  Following  the  brethren  mentioned 
on  the  $10  list  are  nine  other  men  and  women — presiding 
elders,  pastors,  laymen,  and  others.  The  results  reached 
in  the  first  ten  days  are  surely  encouraging.  And  so, 
friends  of  Western  College,  we  have  entered  together 
upon  this  work.  A  task,  a  great  task,  it  is,  but  we  are 
able  for  its  full  accomplishment.  And  its  accomplish- 
ment is  the  will  of  God  and  our  sacred  duty.  How  soon 
this  will  be  reached  I  cannot  say.  We  set  no  time,  but 
we  do  set  the  goal — the  full  liquidation  of  this  college 
debt. 

"For  this  end,  so  vital  to  our  Church  in  the  central 
northwest,  let  all  our  people  pray,  and  talk,  and  give. 

"L.  Bookwalter." 

Religious  Telescope,  November  3,  1897 : 

"WESTERN   COLLEGE — ITS  DEBT   MUST  BE   MET   NOW. 

"  'To  everything  there  is  a  season,  and  a  time  to  every 
purpose  under  the  heaven,'  so  says  the  inspired  wise  man. 

"Whether,  in  the  sense  of  this  proverb,  there  is  a  'time 
to  go  in  debt,'  I  do  not  assume  to  say.  This  I  do  know, 
that  time  or  no  time  most  people  go  in  debt.      I  suppose 

229 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

all  will  agree  that  there  is  a  'time  to  get  out  of  debt'  if  one 
possibly  can. 

"Whether  there  is  a  time  for  a  college  to  go  in  debt 
need  not  here  be  discussed — most  colleges  unfortunately 
have  done  so — but  the  one  conviction  to  which  the  friends 
of  Western  College  seem  now  to  be  unanimously  coming, 
is  that  whatever  may  be  thought  or  said  as  to  its  having 
been  run  in  debt,  the  time  is  here  when  it  must  and  it  shall 
be  lifted  out. 

"Let  us  notice  why  the  manager  and  friends  now  so 
feel.  First,  there  has  been  no  general  effort  made  against 
the  debt  for  over  three  years,  the  canvass  for  the  '  '92 
Fund'  having  been  completed  September  4,  1894.  It 
was  necessary  to  give  the  territory  rest  after  that  so 
general  and  hard  a  lift ;  but  the  rest  has  been  taken,  and 
the  time  for  action  is  now  here.  Uneasy  and  anxious 
under  existing  conditions,  the  friends  of  the  College 
would  interpret  further  inaction  as  a  grave  and  perilous 
mistake.  Everywhere  it  is  felt  that  we  must  again  be 
moving  upon  the  debt. 

"Again,  the  general  financial  condition  of  the  country 
is  improving,  slowly,  but  it  is  thought  surely.  During 
the  past  two  years  the  state  of  commercial  affairs  has  been 
such  that  no  one  could  successfully  conduct  a  canvass  for 
money  for  a  college  debt.  But  with  the  turn  in  the  tide  of 
business  the  thought  of  the  people  has  turned  towards  the 
needs  of  their  college,  and  they  are  again  as  ready  as  they 
are  again  able  to  come  to  its  relief.  The  times  are  auspi- 
cious, and  we  shall,  with  gratitude  to  the  Dispenser  of 
events,  without  delay  embrace  our  opportunity. 

And  further,  the  doubts  and  fears  which  a  few  years 
age  were  entertained  as  to  the  final  success  of  the  College 
have  now  given  way — given  place  to  faith  and  courage. 

230 


President  Bookwalter  Elected 

The  vigorous  internal  life  which  the  College  has  taken  on, 
the  fine  growth  in  numbers  and  advancement  in  general 
standing  which  it  has  made,  and  the  successful  running  of 
the  school  upon  a  financial  basis  by  which  no  additional 
debt  is  incurred,  these  facts  have  naturally  inspired  a  con- 
fidence and  awakened  an  enthusiasm  which  has  prepared 
all  to  enter  heartily  and  liberally  into  the  financial  move- 
ment now  proposed. 

"And  finally,  it  is  known  and  felt  by  all  that  the  one  all- 
embracing  matter  with  Western  College  is  the  early  pay- 
ment of  its  debt.  This  is  the  one  thing  vital.  Other 
things  are  important,  as  sustaining  a  strong  faculty  and 
running  the  school  economically,  but  to  pay  the  debt  is  a 
necessity.  Around  the  lifting  of  this  $65,000  debt  every- 
thing, in  the  last  analysis,  centers.  The  people  very  well 
know  this,  and  the  management  fully  realizes  it.  In  the 
work  of  saving  and  building  up  this  College  we  are  now 
face  to  face  with  the  real  issue — we  are  come  to  the  final, 
determining  effort.  All  that  has  been  accomplished  dur- 
ing these  past  three  years  has  been  but  preparatory  to 
what  is  yet  and  now  to  be  done,  and  is  a  success  only  as 
it  is  followed  up  and  crowned  with  the  wiping  out  of  the 
debt.  And  so,  I  repeat,  we  are  all  resolved  upon  this 
present  financial  effort,  because  upon  its  success  definitely 
depends  the  very  life  of  the  College. 

"Thus  do  many  and  strong  reasons  unite  in  pointing  to 
the  present  as  God's  time  and  our  time  to  achieve  the  final 
relief  and  sure  success  of  this  Christian  College. 

"It  will  interest  all  to  know  that  the  list  of  donors  is 
steadily  growing.  It  may  be  proper  and  helpful  to  begin 
soon  the  publication  of  gifts. 

"L.  Bookwalter." 
231 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

From  the  Watchword,  August  16,  1899: 

i 

"improvements  at  western  college. 

"At  the  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Western 
College,  June,  1899,  many  improvements  in  the  buildings 
were  planned  and  authorized.  These  improvements  at 
this  time  are  nearly  completed. 

"Drury  Hall,  where  room  and  board  is  furnished  for 
young  men,  has  been  papered  or  calcimined  throughout ; 
the  rooms  which  students  occupy  are  recarpeted.  New 
walks  have  been  made,  and  the  house  has  been  repaired. 
Under  the  management  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Drake,  Drury 
Hall  promises  to  be  a  popular  home  for  students. 

"By  reason  of  the  kindness  of  a  very  dear  friend  of 
Western,  a  much-needed  bathroom,  and  all  pertaining  to 
it,  has  been  placed  in  Beatty  Hall.  Rooms  are  to  have 
new  paper  and  new  carpet ;  the  porches  are  to  be  painted ; 
other  improvements  are  in  mind.  Beatty  Hall  is  a  most 
attractive  home  for  young  ladies,  and  will  increase  in 
popularity.  The  club  system,  so  successfully  operated 
last  year,  will  be  continued. 

"The  Conservatory  of  Music  will  present  a  more  beau- 
tiful appearance  because  of  paint  and  paper. 

In  the  last  four  years  seven  rooms  in  the  College  build- 
ing, including  the  society  halls,  which  are  most  hand- 
somely decorated,  have  been  frescoed  without  expense  to 
the  College  treasurer.  The  Board  of  Trustees,  in  keeping 
with  this  spirit  of  progress,  ordered  the  frescoing  of  all 
the  rooms  in  the  College  building.  All  the  members  of 
the  faculty  very  cheerfully  agreed  to  bear  a  part  of  the 
expense  of  ornamenting  their  respective  recitation  rooms. 
When  this  work  is  done,  few  colleges  anywhere  will  pre- 
sent a  neater  or  prettier  appearance  than  Western.    These 

232 


President  Bookzualter  Electea 

beautiful  rooms  will  prove  a  constant  inspiration  to  both 
students  and  teachers,  and  I  am  sure  that  our  visiting 
friends  will  take  great  pleasure  and  pride  in  our  pro- 
gressive spirit  and  handsome  surroundings. 

"Other  necessary  improvements  have  been  made  in 
buildings  and  grounds. 

"Western  College  is  now  more  than  ever  an  attractive 
and  enticing  spot  to  all  students  and  friends,  who,  at  all 
times,  are  very  welcome  to  its  halls. 

"One  of  the  greatest  needs  of  the  College  now  is  stu- 
dents, and  just  here  is  made  another  appeal  to  all  our 
ministers  and  to  all  other  friends  to  make  earnest  efforts 
for  the  success  of  Western  College  to  fill  its  halls  with 
students.  Let  us  have  your  assistance  in  securing  two 
hundred  students  for  the  opening,  September  13,  1899. 
Stand  by  Western  with  the  well-grounded  hope  that  your 
school  will  be  heard  from  through  the  young  people  you 
send  us.  Accept  our  gratitude  for  past  favors  in  the  ex- 
pectation of  larger  and  richer  ones. 

"B.  F.  McClelland." 

"WESTERN   COLLEGE — ITS   NEW   LIFE. 

"To  one  intimately  associated  with  Western  College 
for  the  last  few  years  there  has  been  apparent  the  grad- 
ual unfolding  of  a  new  life,  which  has  now  become  very 
real  and  very  potent. 

"Colleges,  like  individuals,  have  personality  and  life 
story,  uneventful  periods  and  epoch-making  periods. 
The  story  of  the  last  ten  years  includes  an  epoch-making 
period  in  the  history  of  Western  College. 

"First,  a  period  of  general  inflation  in  the  business 
world  with  consequent  'easy  times' — easy  to  contract 
debts — and   a   'boom'   period    for  the   College,   resulting 

233 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

from  its  recent  relocation  and  the  general  business 
prosperity. 

"Great  things  were  in  prospect.  The  College  was  mak- 
ing a  'record,'  and  in  consequence  expenses  were  incurred 
beyond  incomes,  trusting  to  the  delusive  future  for  pay- 
ment. Then  came  the  destructive  fire,  which,  despite  the 
heroic  response  of  Toledo  and  outside  friends,  added 
greatly  to  the  already  oppressive  debt,  and  soon  the 
authorities  were  being  driven  to  their  wits'  end  in  tiding 
over  various  emergencies.  In  this  state  of  affairs  came  the 
great  financial  crisis  in  the  business  world,  the  inability 
of  the  College  to  meet  its  obligations,  a  falling  behind  in 
teachers'  salaries,  internal  friction,  and  a  wholesale  resig- 
nation of  faculty  and  instructors,  necessitating  a  complete 
reorganization.  The  first  year  was  little  more  than  a 
temporary  expedient  to  bridge  a  chasm..  Then  plans 
promising  more  permancy  were  devised,  and  a  consistent 
internal  policy  was  adopted.  But  the  financial  stringency 
was  still  at  its  worst,  friends  had  become  discouraged, 
and  some  completely  alienated,  and  within  was  disorgan- 
ization. The  task  of  resurrection  seemed  all  but  hope- 
less, yet  a  wise  policy,  conscientiously  and  steadfastly 
carried  out,  is  accomplishing  the  seemingly  impossible. 

"This  policy  consists  of  two  essential  principles:  (1) 
The  current  expenses  of  the  College  must  not  exceed  the 
current  income.  This  principle  excludes  additions  to 
the  debt  except  from  its  own  accruing  interest.  (2) 
The  educational  standards  of  the  College  must  be  main- 
tained at  the  highest  possible  point  consistent  with  exist- 
ing conditions.  When  necessary  in  carrying  out  this 
principle,  wide  range  of  subjects  taught  is  sacrificed  to 
excellence  in  the  subjects  attempted,  and  the  prompt 
payment  of  teachers  is  made  the  first  duty  of  the  treas- 

234 


President  Bookivalter  Elected 

ury  in  order  to  secure  and  hold  teachers  of  superior 
ability  and  training.  What  this  policy  has  accomplished 
is  best  appreciated  by  those  who  have  watched  its  work- 
ings most  carefully. 

"It  is  safe  to  say  that  never  has  there  been  manifested 
a  greater  confidence  in  the  financial  integrity  of  the  Col- 
lege, and  surely  there  never  have  been  more  people  willing 
to  lend  assistance.  It  is  equally  safe  to  say  that  the 
educational  standards  have  never  been  higher,  and  surely 
there  never  has  been  more  complete  internal  harmony, 
and  perhaps  never  such  a  close  sympathy  between  teach- 
ers and  students.  Even  traditional  college  tricks  are 
most  conspicuous  by  their  absence.  In  fact,  the  spirit 
of  petty  annoyance,  often  found  among  college  students, 
would  be  so  abnormal  under  present  conditions  that  it 
most  perforce  soon  die  in  consequence  of  uncongenial 
climatic  conditions. 

"The  return  of  general  prosperity  makes  this  the  time 
for  the  friends  of  the  College  to  rally  to  its  support. 

"The  financial  results  of  the  past  year  have  been  most 
gratifying,  even  beyond  our  expectations.  The  treas- 
urer's report  last  June  showed  that  the  debt  was  actually 
reduced  more  than  $14,000.  It  should  be  explained  that 
nearly  half  of  that  came  from  the  final  settlement  of  a 
long  contested  legacy,  but  even  then  the  showing  is  a 
good  one.  Since  June  some  $6,000  more  has  been  can- 
celled, largely  through  the  generosity  of  one  man.  Thus 
the  great  load  is  moving.  Let  our  good  friends  keep  it 
going. 

"Much  of  the  credit  for  what  has  been  accomplished 
is  due  to  the  firm  determination  and  ceaseless  efforts  of 
President  Bookwalter.  With  a  scrupulous  sense  of  the 
sanctity  of  financial  obligations,  he  has  succeeded  in  win- 

235 


Western — L c and er -Clark  College 

ning  for  the  College  the  respect  and  confidence  of  all 
with  whom  he  has  dealings.  He  also  possesses  the  rare 
faculty  of  smoothing  ruffled  feelings,  and  of  soliciting 
people  for  money,  and  yet  leaving  behind  a  kindly  feeling 
which  invites  a  second  call.  The  College  is  fortunate  in 
having  such  a  man  at  its  head  just  now. 

"H.  W.  Ward." 

Finally,  at  the  opening  of  the  year  1900,  the  conviction 
grew  upon  those  having  the  work  in  charge  that  the  time 
had  come  to  make  one  supreme  effort  to  cast  off  the  whole 
burden  of  debt.  Accordingly  a  time  limit  was  set  and  a 
plan  was  formulated  for  raising  within  the  limit  fixed 
the  whole  amount  yet  needed.  Computing  the  interest 
that  would  accrue  in  the  two  years  and  estimating  ex- 
penses of  the  canvass,  it  was  found  that  $50,000  of  new 
funds  must  be  secured  in  order  to  clear  all  indebtedness. 
The  plan  devised  therefore  proposed  to  secure  in  cash  or 
good  obligations  the  sum  of  fifty  thousand  dollars,  the 
whole  amount  to  be  secured  and  duly  reported  on  or 
before  January  1,  1902.  A  committee,  consisting  of  the 
President  of  the  College  and  the  cashiers  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Tama,  the  Toledo  Savings  Bank,  and 
the  Toledo  State  Bank,  was  to  examine  the  notes  and 
pledges  and  determine  whether  the  whole  amount  had 
been  secured.  The  plan  of  a  united  assault  upon  the 
remaining  debt  appealed  to  all  the  friends  of  the  College, 
particularly  as  yearly  interest  went  far  toward  consuming 
the  results  of  a  more  deliberate  canvass.  Furthermore, 
the  finances  of  the  country  were  again  in  a  prosperous 
condition  and  everything  invited  to  the  great  undertaking. 

By  the  time  plans  were  fully  matured  and  arrangements 
made  for  organizing  the  canvass,  the  first  of  April,  1900, 

236 


President  Bookivalter  Elected 

had  arrived.  President  Bookwalter  had,  for  a  long  time, 
been  alone  in  the  field.  Now  N.  F.  Hicks  was  selected 
as  his  lieutenant  and  given  the  title  of  field  agent  or 
secretary.  Together  they  mapped  out  the  field  and  pro- 
ceeded to  push  the  canvass  into  all  quarters  of  the 
cooperating  territory. 

With  what  encouragement  the  work  began  is  indicated 
by  the  following  letter  to  the  Telescope  six  months  after 
the  campaign  was  started: 

"WESTERN   COLLEGE — THE  OUTLOOK. 

"The  fall  conferences  of  the  cooperating  territory  have 
all  had  their  annual  sessions,  the  Iowa  Conference  having 
met  in  March.  It  has  always  been  a  great  pleasure  and 
an  inspiration  to  meet  with  these  bodies  representing  our 
Church  in  the  central  northwest.  This  year  the  general 
interest  and  spirit  seemed  to  me  to  be  unusually  fine, 
while  the  spirit  of  progress,  as  shown  in  the  reports  of 
presiding  elders  and  pastors  and  in  the  plans  for  the 
future,  was  especially  apparent. 

"The  increased  interest  manifested  everywhere  in  higher 
education  and  in  our  own  institution  of  learning  was  very 
marked,  and  is  most  gratifying.  One  evidence  of  this  is 
the  fine  increase  in  the  total  of  College  Faculty  Fund 
reported  by  the  pastors  of  the  various  conferences.  The 
number  of  charges  reporting  this  fund  full  was  double 
that  so  reporting  any  previous  year.  This  also  means  the 
sending  of  a  largely  increased  number  of  student  repre- 
sentatives on  the  one  term's  free  tuition  privilege. 

"The  new  plan  for  the  final  liquidation  of  the  debt  was 
enthusiastically  endorsed  by  all  these  conferences,  the 
Iowa  Conference  having  given  it,  in  the  latter  part  of 

237 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

March,  its  hearty  endorsement,  at  the  time  of  the  launch- 
ing of  the  scheme.  A  public  appeal  for  offerings  for  the 
debt  fund  was  made  at  each  of  the  late  conferences, 
resulting  in  gifts  in  cash  and  notes  aggregating  as  follows  : 
Rock  River,  $810;  Des  Moines,  $1,580;  Minnesota,  $606; 
Wisconsin,  $424,  the  whole  aggregating  $3,420.  This  is 
the  kind  of  endorsement  that  counts.  This  generous  and 
substantial  support  of  the  movement  of  our  Church  lead- 
ers, both  lay  and  clerical,  gives  to  it  multiplied  influence 
and  strength  among  our  people  everywhere.  The  fact  is, 
as  these  six  months  of  its  presentation  to  the  people 
show,  the  proposition  that  all  now  lift  together  and  lift 
out,  makes  its  own  appeal,  and  the  plan  to  secure  the 
$50,000  by  January  1,  1902,  with  which  to  provide  for  the 
full  liquidation  of  the  debt,  is  surely  destined  to  succeed. 
But  it  will  need  to  be  supported  liberally  by  all  the  friends 
of  the  College  and  pushed  with  vigor  everywhere.  The 
task  is  a  herculean  one,  and  will  be  accomplished  only  by 
a  united  and  supreme  effort  by  the  friends  of  the  institu- 
tion. The  present  is  full  of  assurance.  We  are  making 
steady  progress.  The  $20,000  mark  has  been  passed,  and 
we  are  pushing  on  toward  the  midway  point  on  the  road 
to  the  goal. 

"There  is  also  everywhere  a  growing  purpose  to  send  a 
larger  number  of  our  young  people  to  the  College.  This 
is  the  result  both  of  an  increased  interest  in  higher  educa- 
tion and  of  a  more,  loyal  devotion  to  our  Church  and 
school.  The  ministry  and  laity  are  alike  moved  with  this 
good  purpose.  The  results  are  seen  in  the  steadily  in- 
creasing attendance.  No  recent  year  has  opened  with  so 
large  a  number  of  students  as  has  this.  The  present  net 
total  enrollment  is  223.  We  are  thoroughly  organized  in 
every  department,  and  the  work  is  fully  under  way.    The 

238 


President  Bookwalter  Elected 

internal  life  is  vigorous  and  the  interest  fine.  There  is 
every  promise  for  a  year  of  unusual  success. 

"The  advance  internally  and  the  advance  financially 
being  made  by  the  College  are  mutually  helpful.  The 
conditions  are  full  of  promise.  This  is  our  time  for 
vigorous  action ;  our  time  to  join  hands  in  the  task  before 
us ;  our  time  to  strike  off  our  shackles  and  move  for- 
ward. Our  College  is  enjoying  in  an  unusual  measure 
the  hearty  good  will  of  men  and  the  gracious  favor  of 
God.  This,  I  repeat,  this  for  Western  College  is  the  day 
of  opportunity. 

"Toledo,  Iowa.  L.  Bookwalter." 

The  following,  from  a  local  paper,  under  date  of 
December  13,  1900,  shows  how  the  internal  life  of  the 
school  was  expanding  as  well  as  how  the  debt  campaign 
was  progressing: 

"western  college. 
"The  present  term,  closing  on  the  eighteenth,  has  been 
the  best  the  College  has  had  for  years.  The  enrollment  is 
twenty-five  per  cent,  in  advance  of  that  a  year  ago.  There 
has  been  a  fine  gain  in  all  departments.  The  interest 
has  been  excellent,  and  both  faculty  and  students  close 
the  work  of  the  term  with  unusual  satisfaction.  One 
noticeable  feature  of  the  attendance  is  the  fine  increase  in 
the  number  of  young  people  who  are  from  the  homes  of 
our  own  county.  They  come  from  country,  town,  and 
city  and  represent  the  most  substantial  class  of  our  citi- 
zens. This  home  support  is  very  gratifying  to  all  friends 
of  the  College.  It  shall  be  the  constant  aim  of  the  man- 
agement to  make  of  Western  College  an  institution  that 
shall  be  the  just  pride  of  the  community  and  of  this 
section  of  the  State. 

239 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

"There  is  every  promise  of  a  largely  increased  attend- 
ance the  coming  term,  which  begins  January  2. 

"There  will  be  an  unusually  large  number  of  new  stu- 
dents coming  largely,  as  is  always  the  case  in  the  winter, 
from  village  and  country.  The  subjects  taught  will  cover 
a  large  range — from  the  common  branches  on  up  through 
all  the  grades  of  the  regular  preparatory  and  collegiate 
work.  The  adjunct  departments  of  Music,  Elocution, 
Commerce,  and  Art  will  offer  superior  advantages.  The 
expenses  of  the  student  at  Western  College  are  known  to 
be  very  moderate,  unusually  low  considering  the  high- 
grade  facilities. 

"All  friends  of  the  College  will  be  glad  to  know  that 
the  plan  set  on  foot  last  April,  for  securing  $50,000  by 
January  1,  1902,  with  which  to  provide  for  the  liquidation 
of  the  entire  debt  of  the  College,  is  meeting  with  assured 
success.  Obligations  have  already  been  secured  aggre- 
gating $22,000.  A  year  yet  remains  in  which  to  provide 
for  the  large  sum  yet  needed  to  consummate  the  plan 
Vigorous  work  by  the  managers  of  the  College  and  gen- 
erous giving  by  all  its  friends  will  see  this  vital  and  much 
watched  for  end  achieved.  The  generous  response  by 
those  who  have  already  been  called  upon  is  most  heartily 
appreciated. 

"The  present  outlook  for  Western  College  as  viewed 
from  all  standpoints  is  full  of  promise. 

"L.  Bookwalter,  President." 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Board,  in  June,  1901,  a  casting 
up  of  accounts  showed  nearly  half  the  entire  amount  yet 
to  raise  and  only  six  months  in  which  to  raise  it.  The 
road  to  the  mountain  top  was  still  long  and  steep,  but  this 
was  no  time  for  stout  men  to  falter  or  grow  faint-hearted. 

240 


A.  H.  DOLPH 

A  generous  supporter  of  the  College. 


J.   K.  HOBAUGH 
Who  laid  the  foundation  for  a  Perma- 
nent Endowment. 


JENNIE  McINTYRE  FLETCHER 
Of  the  Fletcher  Chair  of  English  founded 
by  herparents,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  D.  Mclntyre. 


JACOB  GUTSHALL 

Who  continued  his  gifts  to  the  College 

after  he  was  ninety  years  old. 


ADAM  SHAMBAUGH 
Of  the  Shambaugh  Chair  of  Chemistry. 


S.  R.  LICHTENWALTER 
Long  a  member  of  the  Board  and  of  the 
Executive  Committee. 


HON.  JOHN  SHAMBAUGH 
Of  the  Shambaugh  Chair  of  Chemistry. 


HON.  H.  J.  STIGER 
Endowment  Secretary. 


President  Bookivalter  Elected 

Conscious  of  the  great  task  before  them,  the  authorities 
of  the  College  girded  themselves  for  a  climb  such  as 
might  be  the  talk  of  a  lifetime.  How  they  went  about 
their  work  may  be  gathered  from  the  following  short 
letter  to  the  Telescope  written  soon  after  commencement : 

"WESTERN    COLLEGE — FINANCIAL   CAMPAIGN. 

"As  stated  in  Doctor  Drury's  report  of  commencement 
week,  the  pushing  of  the  scheme  to  raise  the  full  $50,000 
for  liquidation  of  debt  by  January  1,  next,  was  the  one 
absorbing  thought  of  all.  The  securing  of  the  $24,000 
yet  needed  was  the  chief  end  planned  for  by  the  Board 
of  Trustees,  both  as  a  body  and  as  individuals.  It  was 
determined  to  place  a  number  of  our  strongest  men  in 
the  field  to  assist  in  the  canvass.  By  the  voluntary  offer 
of  their  services  on  the  part  of  a  number  of  our  leading 
pastors,  we  are  able  to  announce  a  strong  force  soon  to 
enter  the  field.  Among  these  are  Rev.  M.  R.  Drury,  of 
Toledo;  Rev.  W.  I.  Beatty,  of  Lisbon;  Rev.  L.  B.  Hix, 
of  Muscatine;  and  Rev.  F.  E.  Brooke,  of  Cedar  Rapids. 
Also,  Rev.  R.  L.  Purdy,  of  Corning,  will  join  in  the  work. 
Two  laymen,  Mr.  Adam  Shambaugh,  of  Booneville,  and 
Mr.  S.  R.  Lichtenwalter,  of  Toledo,  also  told  us  to  call 
upon  them  for  any  assistance  they  could  render.  Since 
the  meeting  of  the  Board,  I  have  secured  the  services  of 
Rev.  L.  L.  Thayer,  of  Edgerton,  Wis.,  to  canvass  his  own 
conference  territory.  These  brethren,  with  Rev.  N.  F. 
Hicks,  regular  field  agent,  and  myself,  will  push  the  can- 
vass with  all  possible  vigor.  But  we  will  be  only  leaders  in 
the  work,  for  there  must  be,  and  there  will  be  the  hearty 
cooperation  of  all  the  presiding  elders  of  the  territory. 
Presiding  elders  Rev.  George  Miller,  Rev.  N.  F.  Cronk, 
and  Rev.  V.  A.  Carlton,  who  were  present  at  the  meeting 

241 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

of  the  Board,  pledged  every  assistance  they  could  give,  and 
some  of  them  already  have  appointments  made  with  Rev. 
N.  F.  Hicks  to  join  him  on  their  districts.  Other  presid- 
ing elders  stand  ready  to  do  the  same.  The  plain  fact  is, 
we  have  upon  us  a  task  such  as  it  will  require  a  united 
effort  on  the  part  of  all  interested  to  accomplish.  But 
earnest  canvassing  must  be  met  by  liberal  giving.  Every 
man  and  woman  who  has  not  yet  given  toward  this  final 
lift  must  do  so ;  and  it  is  evident  also  that  some  who  have 
already  made  donations  must  double  them.  Every  friend 
of  the  College  must  do  his  best,  for  nothing  less  than  such 
responding  will  see  us  surely  to  the  goal.  All  see  plainly 
what  is  involved  in  this  effort — this  is  the  day  of  crisis 
and  of  hope. 

"L.   BOOKWALTER." 

In  the  issue  of  August  7,  1901,  appeared  the  following: 

"western  college. 
"In  the  movement  for  securing  funds  for  the  final 
liquidation  of  the  debt  we  have  now  reached  the  $30,000 
mark.  Let  all  thank  God  and  take  courage.  True,  not 
quite  five  months  remain  in  which  to  provide  the  $20,000 
yet  needed  to  carry  the  scheme  to  successful  issue;  but 
no  effort  will  be  spared  on  the  part  of  the  management 
to  reach  the  goal.  There  are  five  of  us  now  in  the  field, 
and  others  will  enter  soon.  Meanwhile,  work  is  being 
done  by  correspondence.  It  is  the  purpose  to  push  the 
canvass  with  all  possible  vigor,  and  see  quite  all  our 
territory  in  good  time.  We  mean  to  run  no  risks ;  we 
dare  not  trust  to  uncertainties.  Everything  is  at  stake, 
and  if  our  people  are  as  earnest  and  liberal  in  responding 
as  the  College,  through  its  representatives,  is  active  and 
urgent  in  bringing  to  them  this  vital  claim,  there  need  be 

242 


President  Bookivalter  Elected 

no  fear  as  to  the  result.  Let  all  interested  watch  the 
progress  of  this  final  effort.  Let  our  pastors  publicly  call 
attention  to  it  in  remark  and  in  prayer ;  and  let  all  our 
people  in  the  cooperating  territory  bestow  prayer,  and 
thought,  and  their  full  part  in  means  toward  the  sure 
accomplishment  of  this  great  work. 

"The  unusual  efforts  being  made  in  behalf  of  the  finan- 
cial relief  of  the  College  are  proving  also  an  efficient 
means  of  calling  the  attention  of  our  young  people  to  the 
subject  of  higher  education,  and  turning  them  to  their 
own  school.  The  fine  gain  in  attendance  last  year  was,  in 
large  part,  the  result  of  the  activity  of  representatives  of 
the  College.  Also  our  pastors  and  presiding  elders  have, 
during  recent  years,  been  giving  more  attention  to  the 
intellectual  advancement  of  their  people.  There  is  room, 
and  there  is  a  great,  urgent  call  for  further  awakening, 
educationally,  among  our  people.  Let  the  canvass  for 
students  be  now  pushed  by  everybody.  There  should  be 
a  steady,  solid  growth  in  our  attendance  from  year  to 
year.  We  made  a  gain  last  year  of  twenty-two  per  cent., 
reaching  a  net  total  enrollment  of  340.  We  have  set  our 
mark  for  the  coming  year  at  400.  Faithfulness  on  the 
part  of  parents  to  their  children,  and  faithfulness  on  the 
part  of  young  people  to  their  opportunities,  with  faithful- 
ness on  the  part  of  pastors  to  all  classes  of  their  people, 
will  send  to  these  halls  of  Christian  learning  many  more 
students  than  the  number  I  have  named. 

"L.   BOOKWALTER." 

As  the  time  remaining  in  which  to  complete  the  canvass 
became  first  weeks  and  then  days,  effort  became  strenuous 
and  anxiety  intense.  President  Bookwalter  and  Field 
Secretary  Hicks  knew  no  rest;  if  they  slept  at  all,  they 

243 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

slept  on  their  arms  ready  to  renew  the  fight  with  the  first 
signs  of  dawn.  At  the  same  time  assistant  solicitors, 
some  officially  appointed  and  some  volunteers,  gave  valu- 
able aid ;  F.  E.  Brooke  in  Illinois  and  M.  R.  Drury  in 
Iowa  were  especially  helpful  in  this  canvass. 

Finally,  when  the  outside  territory  had  all  been  can- 
vassed, President  Bookwalter  and  Field  Secretary  Hicks 
returned  home.  The  committee  of  bankers  designated 
at  the  beginning  of  the  canvass  counted  the  notes  and 
cash  and  found  them  a  little  more  than  eight  thousand 
dollars  short  of  the  required  $50,000,  and  only  two  weeks 
left  in  which  to  secure  it.  A  mass  meeting  of  citizens 
was  called,  the  facts  were  stated,  and  an  energetic  home 
canvass  was  begun,  participated  in  by  pastors,  business 
men,  and  other  volunteers — this,  too,  after  Toledo  had 
already  contributed  heavily  toward  the  debt  fund.  Even 
the  children  caught  the  spirit  of  the  hour  and  organized 
among  themselves  a  Dollar  Relief  Corps.  The  following 
account,  published  in  a  local  paper  just  after  the  campaign 
closed,  will  give  some  hint  of  the  joy  and  inspiration  this 
children's  brigade  brought  to  the  cause,  especially  to 
President  Bookwalter: 

"the  childern's  relief  corps. 
"One  of  the  pleasing  incidents  in  connection  with  the 
late  effort  to  raise  the  debt  of  Western  College  was  the 
part  taken  in  it  by  the  boys  and  girls  of  the  town.  They 
made  their  gift  on  Christmas  morning,  going  to  the  home 
of  President  Bookwalter,  where  they  completely  surprised 
him.  The  speaker  for  the  happy  company  was  Miss 
Sadie  Markee,  who,  in  a  very  pleasant  way,  told  the 
president  the  object  of  their  coming,  whereupon  they 
proceeded   to   deposit  their  dollars,   one   each,   into   his 

244 


President  Bookwalter  Elected 

hands.  They  were,  of  course,  received  gladly,  and  after 
a  few  words  of  thanks  and  commendation  by  President 
Bookwalter,  the  children  retired,  happy  in  the  thought  that 
they  had  helped  in  raising  the  $50,000  fund  for  our  Col- 
lege. Following  is  a  list  of  the  names  of  those  who  par- 
ticipated in  this  good  work: 

"Zay  Cannon,  Frank  Harlan,  Frank  Dragoun,  Charles 
L.  Benesh,  Eula  Lichty,  Mollie  Pierce,  Pauline  New- 
comer, Will  Fee,  James  E.  Shope,  Mabel  Westfall, 
Gazelle  Fitzgerald,  Ethel  Jackson,  Vada  Borland,  Gilbert 
Hicks,  Alice  Blanche  Carder,  Margaret  Ferris,  Harold 
Ingham,  Grace  Youngman,  Helen  A.  Johnson,  Marion 
Reamer,  Irene  Lamb,  Sadie  Markee,  Lucille  Baldwin, 
Katie  Reed,  Esther  Rebok,  Geneve  Baker,  Ray  B.  Salz- 
man,  Roy  Romine,  Leda  Carlton,  Johnnie  Bufkin,  Glen 
Muckler,  Walter  Dobson,  Neil  Gallagher,  Charlie  Dra- 
goun, Laurence  F.  Benesh,  Myrtle  Wagoner,  Mildred 
Pierce,  Mamie  Strawhacker,  Anson  Cronk,  Myrsina  E. 
Shope,  Hugh  Westfall,  Leonard  Sears,  Georgietta  Dole- 
zal,  Donald  Malin,  Byron  Hicks,  Everet  Harrison,  Edna 
Mathews,  Ray  Ingham,  Wanda  Dobson,  Eva  E.  Johnson, 
Scott  Jones,  Ronald  Reamer,  Newell  Spayth,  Max  Ward, 
Maud  Baldwin,  Helen  Stockton,  Ruth  Rebok,  Erma 
Baker,  Nina  G.  Salzman,  Mamie  Romine,  Warren 
Thoman,  Ross  Grau,  Verna  Cannon,  James  Bates. 

"At  the  Jubilee  meeting,  Thursday  evening  of  last  week, 
a  large  section  of  seats  were  reserved  for  this  Dollar 
Relief  Corps.  They  joined  heartily  in  the  demonstrations 
of  rejoicing  over  the  freeing  of  the  College  from  debt. 
They  will  be  friends  of  the  school  in  the  years  to  come. 
Some  of  them,  no  doubt,  will  be  members  of  graduating 
classes  along  from  1910  to  1915." 

245 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

The  closing  hours  of  the  exciting  campaign  may  well  be 
presented  by  a  clipping  from  the  report  of  M.  R.  Drury, 
published  in  the  Religious  Telescope  of  January  8,  1902: 

"When  the  evening  of  December  30  arrived,  a  number 
of  friends  of  the  College,  including  leading  citizens,  met 
in  the  new  Hotel  Toledo  to  hear  the  result  of  the  canvass 
to  that  date.  President  Bookwalter  made  a  brief  state- 
ment, closing  with  the  report  of  his  committee  that  they 
had  examined  all  the  notes  and  counted  the  cash  received, 
and  that  they  found  there  was  still  lacking  but  the  sum  of 
$831.  This  amount  was  quickly  pledged  with  a  consid- 
erable surplus.  To  this  was  added  hundreds  of  dollars 
the  next  day,  December  31,  the  last  day  for  the  completion 
of  the  debt  fund,  coming  from  near  and  far.  Thus  the 
hotel  meeting  closed  amid  great  enthusiasm  and  rejoicing. 
As  the  full  consciousness  of  the  results  achieved  came  on, 
there  were  tears  of  joy  and  'thank  God'  for  victory. 

"Soon  the  College  bell  and  the  bells  of  the  city  churches 
were  ringing  out  the  glad  announcement  that  the  full 
amount  needed  to  cancel  the  long-standing  and  burden- 
some debt  of  Western  College  was  at  last  provided.  The 
next  morning  a  young  lad,  beginning  his  day's  work  saw- 
ing wood,  inquired  of  the  writer,  'What  was  them  bells 
ringing  for  last  night?'  When  told  it  was  because  the 
College  debt  was  paid,  he  simply  said,  'Oh,  I  wondered.' 

"Well,  many  people,  even  those  engaged  in  the  battle 
effort,  will  wonder  and  rejoice  over  the  splendid  achieve- 
ment now  happily  realized.  How  this  result  was  accom- 
plished has  already  been  stated.  However,  a  further 
summary  may  not  be  out  of  place.     There  was 

"1.  A  simple  and  wise  plan  of  procedure  which  com- 
mended itself  to  the  business  and  Christian  judgment  of 
the  friends  of  the  College. 

246 


President  Bookwalter  Elected 

"2.  The  plan  had  back  of  it  competent  and  trusted 
leadership,  without  which  cooperation  and  success  would 
have  been  impossible.  This  leadership  was  hopeful  from 
the  beginning,  and  was  persevering  in  labors  and  unflag- 
ging in  zeal,  and  had  but  one  goal  in  view,  and  that  was 
ultimate  success. 

"3.  Much  of  the  giving  was  of  the  heroic  type.  Mis- 
sionaries in  far-off  lands  gave  $100  each;  teachers  and 
others,  with  heavy  obligations  resting  on  them  gave  liber- 
ally, ministers  receiving  small  salaries  have  a  large  repre- 
sentation among  the  donors  whose  giving  must  involve 
rigid  economy  and  self-denial  in  personal  expenses. 

"Of  course,  there  was  in  all  this  effort  the  ever-present 
and  conscious  presence  and  help  of  God.  The  work  was 
his,  was  on  behalf  of  his  kingdom,  and  he  has  given  it  his 
continuous  blessing.  His  gracious  aid  is  gratefully  rec- 
ognized and  acknowledged. 

"President  Bookwalter  is  especially  to  be  congratulated 
on  his  wise  and  successful  financial  policy  for  Western 
College.  During  his  eight  years  of  service  at  the  head 
of  the  school  he  has  not  only  ably  conducted  the  institu- 
tion on  its  income  from  student  fees  and  other  contingent 
receipts,  so  that  there  has  never  been  a  yearly  deficit  since 
his  connection  with  it,  but  he  has  now  provided  for  the 
liquidation  of  the  entire  debt,  which,  including  principal 
and  accrued  and  accruing  interest,  would  not  be  far  from 
$100,000.  He  has  accomplished  a  gigantic  work  by  the 
blessing  of  God  and  the  hearty  cooperation  of  those  asso- 
ciated with  him  in  college  work  and  in  the  ministry  and 
laity  of  the  patronizing  territory  of  this  cherished  institu- 
tion of  higher  learning.  His  executive  skill  and  his  devo- 
tion to  a  great  cause  are  notable,  and  deserve  commenda- 

247 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

tion.  The  Church,  likewise,  is  to  be  congratulated  on 
having  so  wise,  persistent,  and  consecrated  a  leader. 

"From  what  has  been  here  said,  despite  the  hindrances 
to  be  surmounted,  it  is  not  difficult  to  see  how  the  debt  of 
Western  College  has  been  paid.  There  is  a  practical  hint 
in  this  of  at  least  one  way  to  have  an  'education  quad- 
rennium.' 

"A  grand  jubilee  was  held  Thursday  evening,  January 
2,  just  after  the  opening  of  the  winter  term  of  the  College, 
to  celebrate  the  successful  casting  off  of  this  debt-mon- 
ster. While  there  was  a  serious  side  to  the  demonstra- 
tions of  rejoicing  and  to  the  congratulatory  and  enthusi- 
astic addresses,  the  exuberance  of  the  occasion  found 
free  expression  in  college  songs  and  yells.  The  jubilee 
over  the  debt  raised,  will  ever  be  a  memorable  occasion  in 
the  history  of  Western  College.  The  school  now  enters 
upon  a  new  epoch,  with  enlarged  possibilities  of  power 
and  usefulness. 

"Toledo,  Iozva.  Marion  R.  Drury." 

The  history  of  the  College  during  the  ten  years  from 
1894  to  1904  has  been  told  so  far,  largely  as  President 
Bookwalter  saw  it  while  that  history  was  in  process  of 
making;  the  following  pages  review  the  same  period  as 
seen  in  the  new  perspective  occasioned  by  the  lapse  of 
time  and  extended  distance.  The  extracts  are  taken 
from  personal  correspondence,  and  so  naturally  have  an 
intimate  and  personal  tone.  The  quotation  begins  with 
the  meeting  of  friends  in  Dayton  and  the  influences  that 
finally  decided  President  Bookwalter  to  come  to  the 
rescue — these  in  answer  to  direct  questions. 

"We,  the  Drury  boys  and  myself,  had  in  the  late  spring 
learned  something  of  the  discouraging  situation  at  West- 

248 


President  Bookwalter  Elected 

ern  College,  its  peril — financial  bankruptcy,  disunion  and 
strife  among  its  friends,  and  of  the  effort  to  secure  a 
relief  fund  of  $35,000.  After  several  consultations  as  to 
what  we  might  do  to  encourage  and  aid,  we  decided,  as  the 
time  of  meeting  of  the  Board  neared,  to  ask  John  Dodds 
to  meet  with  us  in  counsel,  knowing  Mr.  Dodds'  interest 
in  the  College.  So  we,  M.  R.  and  A.  W.  Drury,  John 
Dodds,  and  myself,  met  in  one  of  the  editorial  rooms  of 
the  Telescope,  June  8,  and  talked  the  whole  situation 
over.  The  practical  outcome  of  that  conference  I  find 
stated  thus  in  my  memorandum  of  it.  'We,  Western 
College  Alumni  of  Dayton  and  Brother  Dodds  sent  Waldo 
Drury  out  to  Western  College  Commencement  to  consult 
and  encourage,  pledging  us  to  $500  and  Dodds  $1,000  in 
their  lift  for  life.' 

"Upon  returning,  Doctor  Drury  reported,  giving  us  the 
whole  situation — the  unfortunate  contention  of  factions, 
the  situation  internally,  the  distress  financially,  and  effort 
making  to  relieve  it,  etc.,  but  that  the  tide  had  turned 
and  that  purpose  and  hope  prevailed ;  that  the  Board  ad- 
journed to  meet  again  July  10  to  count  up  financially  and 
to  elect  a  president  and  organize  for  the  next  year. 

"As  to  who  might  be  chosen  as  president,  little  more 
was  said  then;  respecting  myself,  nothing  thought  or 
said,  so  far  as  I  recall,  until  in  his  blunt  way  one  day 
John  Dodds  said  to  me,  'Bookwalter,  you  are  the  man  to 
take  hold  of  that  thing  out  there  and  save  it.'  Later  the 
Drurys  named  the  matter  of  my  going,  to  which  I  re- 
plied, 'One  of  you  undertake  it  yourself.'  I  did  not  then 
entertain  the  thought  a  minute. 

"But  some  others  named  the  matter  to  me,  and  I  re- 
ceived letters  asking  me  to  consider  the  presidency  of  the 
College,      Among  them  a  short  letter  from  Bishop  Kep- 

249 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

hart.  Finally  I  did  mentally  consent  to  entertain  the 
matter  in  a  way.  So,  personally  and  through  the  Drury 
boys,  I  did  some  corresponding,  investigating  sufficiently 
to  learn  two  things  of  importance :  that  the  spirit  of  divi- 
sion was  rife,  with  competing  candidates  for  the  presi- 
dency, that  this  spirit  had  discouraged  and  even  alienated 
from  the  College  many  of  its  friends,  both  laymen  and 
ministers;  and,  secondly,  also  that  the  bottom  was  clear 
out  financially.  So  I  decided  that  I  would  not  further 
entertain  the  matter,  and  therefore  had  Dr.  A.  W.  Drury 
write  the  authorities  the  week  before  the  Board  was  to 
meet,  the  following  Monday,  July  10,  that  I  was  neither  a 
candidate  nor  was  available  for  the  place.  But  as  I 
learned  quite  a  time  afterward,  Doctor  Drury,  after  writ- 
ing my  decision  as  instructed,  appended  a  postscript  some- 
thing like  this,  'Bookwalter  has  said  that  he  will  have 
nothing  to  do  with  factions  and  a  divided  situation,  but 
we  think  that  it  is  possible  he  might  be  induced  to  come 
if  he  were  assured  of  unanimous  support.'  So  the  Board 
seemed  to  take  hold  of  that  suggestion. 

"To  my  great  surprise  and  confusion,  on  Monday, 
July  10,  early  in  the  afternoon,  I  received  this  telegram, 
'You  are  unanimously  elected  president  of  Western  Col- 
lege. What  of  the  faculty?'  To  this  I  was  obliged, 
before  five  o'clock,  to  reach  the  Board  with  "Yes"  or 
"No." 

"With  Mrs.  Bookwalter  and  the  children  and  my  closest 
friends  I  advised,  while  seeking  guidance  of  God,  and  this 
was  our  conclusion  as  a  family,  that  while  the  call  was  as 
unwelcome  as  it  was  unsought,  yet  coming  as  it  did,  we 
did  not  feel  at  liberty  to  disregard  it,  but  must  accept  it 
as  of  the  Master's  ordering.  So  I  replied  by  telegram, 
'I  accept;  leave  the  faculty  to  president  and  Executive 

250 


President  Bookivalter  Elected 

Committee.'  And  that  is  how  I  came  to  leave  my  chosen 
anci  loved  pastoral  work  for  the  task  of  the  rescue  of 
Western  College,  for  only  as  to  a  rescue  would  I  have 
gone. 

"E.  F.  Warren,  who  had  been  elected  vice  president, 
and  myself  arranged  an  early  meeting  at  Toledo,  I  mean- 
while looking  up  some  men  for  faculty.  Mr.  Warren 
had  not  yet  accepted  the  place.  He  and  I  spent  several 
days  in  Toledo  with  the  Executive  Committee  trying  to 
get  at  the  situation  financially  and  internally.  Learned 
that  the  plan  was  that  the  president  and  faculty  were  not 
to  be  guaranteed  the  salaries  named,  but  certain  funds — 
the  regular  incomes  from  students,  rents  of  halls,  'Tem- 
porary Endowment,'  per  cents,  from  the  adjunct  depart- 
ments of  Music  and  College  of  Commerce,  conference 
assessment  and  special  gifts  made  for  the  faculty  sup- 
port— with  these  as  a  'Faculty  Fund,'  they  were  to  run 
the  College — meeting  expenses  of  heating,  janitor,  etc., 
and  dividing  the  net  proceeds  among  themselves.  To 
have  their  own  treasurer,  etc.  Finally,  Mr.  Warren 
decided  to  join  me  in  the  undertaking,  and  we  outlined 
the  work,  the  chairs  we  felt  could  be  supported,  and 
decided  upon  the  teachers. 

'T  arrived  with  my  family  August  23. 

"You  ask  how  I  got  things  started. 

"I  am  obliged  to  say  that  because  of  the  factions  among 
friends,  although  not  so  bitter  as  they  had  been — the 
getting  people  lined  up  and  all  moving  on  harmoniously 
was  one  of  my  greatest  tasks  for  a  year  or  more.  At  the 
very  start  I,  of  course,  recognized  no  such  thing  and 
utterly  discarded  it  in  organizing  and  in  work,  but  I 
was  continually  'sailing  between  Scylla  and  Charybdis.' 

251 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

But  finally  my  policy  had  its  effect  and  old  differences 
were  dropped  and  all  were  pulling  together  harmoniously. 

"Getting  up  spirit,  numbers,  and  College  life  internally 
was  almost  impossible  for  a  time,  as  the  collapse  at  the 
close  of  the  previous  year  had  chilled  and  discouraged  the 
students.  In  August  I  wrote  all  the  more  advanced  stu- 
dents and  sent  new  literature  to  all,  as  well  as  pastors, 
alumni,  and  others.  The  Juniors  of  the  preceding  year 
largely  came  back,  but  late,  after  hearing  of  a  good 
faculty,  but  the  Sophomores,  almost  bodily,  I  failed  to 
get  back.  So  while  we  had  a  nice  little  class  to  graduate 
in  June,  1895,  we  had  in  1896  but  one  regular  College 
graduate,  my  son  Alfred,  and  one  from  the  Normal 
Department. 

"But  by  my  tireless  work  along  every  possible  line,  we 
got  the  tide  of  students  turned  again  toward  the  College, 
so  that  the  second  year  brought  growth,  and  in  the  fall 
term  of  1896  we  enrolled  a  net  total  of  167.  Here  I 
want  to  speak  in  a  special  way  of  Prof.  E.  L.  Colebeck 
as  a  teacher  and  cultured  gentleman  and  an  interested, 
tireless  worker.  He  came  to  us  as  a  stranger,  but  threw 
himself  with  all  his  fine  ability  into  the  work  of  building 
up  the  school  and  along  genuine  College  lines.  He  was 
with  us  three  years,  and  his  leaving  to  enter  the  Univer- 
sity of  Chicago  for  graduate  work  was  much  regretted 
by  the  faculty,  management,  citizens,  and  students.  He 
filled — filled  full  an  important  place  at  a  critical  time. 

"I  must  here  speak  of  the  splendid  work  done  by  E.  F. 
Warren  in  getting  organized  and  well  started  internally. 
Mr.  Warren  fortunately  knew  the  past  of  the  College,  and 
so  understood  also  the  demands  of  the  peculiar  circum- 
stances then  upon  us,  which,  joined  with  his  all-around 
knowledge  of  things,  made  him  an  invaluable  adviser. 

252 


President  Bookzvalter  Elected 

With  everybody,  president,  teachers,  students,  officials, 
citizens,  to  have  Professor  Warren  around  and  in  the 
heart  of  things  gave  a  feeling  of  confidence. 

"The  thing  that  tipped  the  scale  for  the  better  finan- 
cially was  the  consummating  of  the  $35,000  lift,  declared 
accomplished  by  the  Board  in  special  session  September 
4.  While  finally  it  did  not  by  quite  a  sum  bring  the 
full  amount  of  the  recognized  subscriptions  to  the  treas- 
ury of  the  College,  yet  it  brought  the  much-needed 
immediate  relief. 

"For  the  securing  of  much  of  this,  Rev.  T.  D.  Adams 
gave  the  last  work  of  his  life,  and  upon  his  death  Rev. 
Daniel  Miller  was  called  to  complete  the  work.  I  con- 
sider the  work  these  men  did  at  that  time  of  'life  and 
death  struggle'  worthy  of  special  recognition  and  grate- 
ful remembrance. 

The  school  once  started,  and  while  collecting  and  apply- 
ing the  funds  of  the  $35,000,  Professor  Warren  and  I 
devoted  assiduous  effort  to  getting  at  the  exact  financial 
condition,  debts,  assets,  etc.  Here  I  must  speak  of  the 
efficient  service  of  Mr.  Warren.  He  was  a  keen  business 
man  and  an  expert  bookkeeper.  He  was  some  months 
digging  into  the  mass  of  facts  and  things.  Finally  we 
had  the  real  situation,  until  then  really  known  to  no  one ; 
total  debt  of  $85,000  with  little  but  the  valuable  part  of 
the  $35,000  fund  as  asset  against  it,  over  $20,000  having 
been  borrowed  by  the  contingent  fund  of  the  College  and 
no  interest  paid  for  years.  The  large  endowment  which 
had  for  years  from  time  to  time  been  reported  being  only 
notes  given  by  the  various  cooperating  conferences. 
There  were  a  few  'Temporary  Endowment'  notes  to  be 
applied  in  sustaining  the  teachers  so  long  as  the  payments 
lasted. 

253 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

"Now,  I  determined  to  make  to  the  Church  and  all 
friends  a  full  statement  of  the  financial  condition  and  of 
our  plans  for  future  financing  of  the  College.  To  this 
the  Executive  Committee  at  first  objected,  saying  such 
a  public  statement  would  ruin  us,  to  which  I  replied  that, 
on  the  contrary,  such  a  course  of  candor  with  oifr  friends 
was  the  only  proper  and  the  only  means  to  save  us  from 
the  ruin  already  almost  accomplished.  The  consent  was 
given  and  the  statement  was  made,  clearly,  with  the  hope- 
ful view  put  foremost,  and  sent  broadcast ;  and  this  course 
was  the  laying  of  the  foundation  for  all  the  confidence 
and  the  success  that  the  subsequent  years  saw. 

"I  sent  this  to  all  our  creditors,  and  it  actually  was  the 
means  of  inducing  them  to  give  us  time.  There  were 
already  a  half  dozen  judgments  against  the  College  on 
court  files,  and  as  many  more  parties,  immediately  upon 
my  coming  to  the  head  of  the  institution,  had  written  me 
threatening  to  sue.  At  the  same  time  we  proclaimed  the 
policy  of  making  no  more  debts — 'paying  as  we  go' — 
which  policy  we  adhered  to,  and  by  so  doing  gained 
friends  and  got  thousands. 

"Soon  as  the  people  had  a  little  rest  from  paying  the 
$35,000  fund  subscriptions,  we  began  working  for  further 
debt-paying  funds.  Also,  we  entered  suit  to  collect  the 
death  note  given  by  Mary  Beatty,  of  Illinois,  which  suit 
the  College  was  obliged,  at  heavy  cost,  in  spite  of  gaining 
it  in  all  the  lower  courts,  to  contend  for,  sending  it  to  the 
Supreme  Court  where  again  and  finally  we  gained  it. 

"During  the  last  three  years  I  was  both  teaching  and 
conducting  the  field  work,  save  that  in  January,  1896, 
Dr.  George  Miller  joined  me,  really  agreeing  to  be  the 
financier  of  the  College.  He  did  splendid  work  for  a 
few  months,  securing  a  larger  gift  from  A.  H.  Dolph  and 

254 


President  Bookzvalter  Elected 

aiding  in  seeing  the  Shambaughs,  but  did  not  remain  in 
the  work.  So  early  in  1897  I  saw  it  necessary  to  take 
hold  of  the  financial  work  myself  as  my  chief  work,  and 
secured  Rev.  W.  I.  Beatty,  College  pastor,  to  teach  my 
classes;  and  in  June  had  the  Board  relieve  me  from  all 
teaching  that  I  might  give  myself  to  the  financial  problem, 
for  while  all  economy  was  practiced  and  every  effort  put 
forth,  yet  through  the  accumulation  of  interest  during 
the  year  1896  and  1897  the  debt  grew  upon  us.  There 
was  a  money  stringency  upon  all  the  land  and  with  the 
mass  of  people  it  was  of  no  avail  to  present  the  claims  of 
the  College. 

"However,  I  laid  and  proclaimed  a  plan  for  securing 
another  special  debt-paying  fund,  which  had  its  founda- 
tion already  laid  in  large  gifts  pledged  in  1896  to  be  made 
in  payments  by  Adam  Shambaugh  and  A.  H.  Dolph  and 
John  Dodds.  The  coming  to  our  help  of  these  parties  at 
that  time,  when  everything  was  at  a  standstill,  was  well 
nigh  our  only  salvation.  This  act  inspired  confidence  in 
our  final  success,  as  well  as  contributed  toward  it. 

"I  have  mentioned  personally  some  donors,  but  scores 
and  literally  hundreds  of  others  who  gave  from  $1.00  up 
into  the  hundreds  during  my  time  at  the  College  are  just 
as  worthy  of  grateful  mention.  Their  names  and  faces 
and  homes  come  afresh  to  my  thoughts  as  I  write,  and 
words  that  they  spoke  are  still  in  my  memory. 

"When  John  Dodds  pressed  me  to  go  to  the  work  of 
rescue  of  Western  College,  I  pressed  him  for  a  promise 
that  he  would  stand  behind  me  financially.  His  word 
was,  'I'll  stand  by  Mr.  Bookwalter,'  and  I  have  it  to  say, 
and  with  great  gratitude,  that  he  kept  his  promise.  Mr. 
Dodds'  gifts  during  the  ten  years  aggregated  between 
$18,000  and  $19,000  and  counted  for  over  $20,000  to  the 

255 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

College ;  for  several  times  in  the  first  two  years  he  sent 
money  proposing  that  he  would  give  it  to  any  creditor 
who  would  himself  give  the  half  of  his  claim  and  these 
sums  were  always  taken.  I  recall  also  a  case  where  some 
half  dozen  of  our  best  friends  having  given  pledges  to 
the  College,  and  by  recent  judgment  having  been  entered 
against  them,  each  and  all  proposed  that  they  would  them- 
selves pay  so  much  of  the  claim  if  I  would  see  the  re- 
mainder paid — their  united  gifts  amounting  to  a  nice  sum. 
I  had  secured  all  the  balance,  but  one  thousand  dollars. 
In  Mr.  Dodds'  parlor  I  laid  the  matter  before  him,  asking 
for  the  $1,000  needed,  and  I  had  no  more  than  finished 
the  statement  of  the  case  when  he  slapped  me  on  the 
knee,  saying,  'You  shall  have  the  thousand  before  you 
leave  town.'  Mr.  Dodds  often  would  say,  'You  fellows 
out  there  pull  and  I  will  pull  too.'  He  not  only  aided 
that  time,  but  more  than  once  when  we  were  in  distress  he 
came  to  our  help  alone.  He  stuck  to  us  through  thick 
and  thin.  And  also,  through  Mr.  Dodds'  known  friend- 
ship and  plan  of  giving,  people  of  the  cooperating  terri- 
tory were  encouraged  to  give.  I  feel  free  in  saying 
thousands.  So  I  always  felt  that  without  John  Dodds 
we  could  not  have  saved  the  College. 

"When  I  came  to  Iowa  I  at  once  heard  of  the  Sham- 
baugh  brothers.  I  found  them  each  a  large  contributor 
in  the  $35,000  fund,  and  these  men  were,  I  am  bound  to 
say,  my  chief  and  unfailing  dependence  in  financial  mat- 
ters among  the  patrons  of  the  College  during  all  my  con- 
nection with  it.  ,  They  were  at  the  beginning  and  in  the 
wind-up  of  every  special  effort  I  made,  and  again  and 
again  helped  when  we  were  close  pressed.  They  were 
as  true  to  the  College  as  the  needle  to  the  pole. 

256 


President  Bookwalter  Elected 

"Mr.  A.  H.  Dolph,  of  Malvern,  Iowa,  had  been  inter- 
ested and  had  helped  us  at  various  times,  but  through  the 
efforts  of  Dr.  George  Miller  he  finally  made  generous 
gifts.  He  showed  himself  a  man  of  unusually  large 
views  and  liberal  hand  for  one  of  his  earlier  environment, 
and  he  gave  with  all  his  heart.  I  remember  that  when  I 
was  calling,  March  18,  1896,  at  his  home  that  he  might 
put  into  form  the  $10,000  that  he  promised  to  George 
Miller,  and  he  had  executed  the  note  I  said  to  him  that 
his  consecration  of  money  was  as  important  as  the  con- 
secration of  talents  of  others,  that  he  was  as  important  a 
factor  in  the  promotion  of  Christian  education  as  a 
college  field  secretary,  or  a  college  president.  Where- 
upon, in  his  modest  way,  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  he  said, 
'Do  you  really  think  so  ?     I  am  glad  to  do  this.' 

"Memory  recalls,  as  a  warm  early  friend  and  liberal 
helper,  Alexander  Anderson,  of  Illinois,  who  at  one  time, 
in  the  fall  of  1897,  gave  me  a  good  start  for  $500  men, 
being  the  first  of  that  figure  on  the  list.  The  spirit  that 
accompanied  was  as  great  a  blessing  to  me  as  the  money 
was  to  the  College.  Another  friend  whose  hand  opened 
freely  was  J.  K.  Baumgartner,  of  Orangeville,  Illinois. 

"Abram  Lichtenwalter,  of  Tipton,  Iowa,  an  old  bene- 
factor, did  not  forget  the  College  when  the  needs  of  these 
times  were  upon  it.  Mr.  S.  R.  Lichtenwalter,  of  Toledo, 
deserves  a  place  second  to  none,  who  toiled  with  me  as  a 
fast  friend  of  this  College,  a  liberal  benefactor  and  faithful 
official.  Among  the  citizens  of  Toledo  whose  past  friend- 
ship and  constant  encouragement  and  help  I  especially 
experienced  were  Hon.  H.  J.  Stiger  and  W.  D.  Lee,  editor 
of  the  Chronicle,  whose  paper  was  a  tower  of  strength 
for  our  work  in  the  community. 

257 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

"I  should  mention  as  a  friend,  at  a  distance  awakened 
to  interest  and  liberal  helping,  John  Hulitt,  of  Hillsboro, 
Ohio.  Through  my  appeals  in  the  Telescope  he  was  led 
voluntarily  to  propose  aid,  in  annuity  gifts,  to  the  amount 
of  several  thousand  dollars. 

"Mention  would  be  befitting  of  the  share  past  College 
pastors,  W.  I.  Beatty,  and  Mr.  Drury,  had  in  adding  to 
home  church  strength.  Special  note  is  worthy  to  be  made 
of  the  liquidation  of  the  mortgage  debt  on  the  Church 
under  Doctor  Beatty  and  of  Doctor  Drury  in  the  follow- 
ing up  this  advantage  with  enlargement. 

"Respecting  the  vital  importance  of  our  final  lift  on 
the  debt,  which  you  helped  plan,  the  desperate  struggle  to 
reach  it,  the  final  consummation  at  that  meeting  in  the 
hotel,  you  have  knowledge  of. 

"Also  you  know  of  my  efforts,  which  after  two  years 
were  successful,  to  lead  Major  Clark  to  do  the  great 
thing  he  did  in  starting  the  actual  endowing  of  the  Col- 
lege, and  my  getting  everything  in  shape  to  make  possible 
the  meeting  of  the  conditions  by  getting  all  papers  in 
shape  and  by  taking  with  me  to  see  Senator  Allison,  a 
short  time  before  I  left  for  Otterbein  University,  Mr. 
Ebersole,  Dr.  E.  R.  Smith,  and  Judge  Struble.  When 
the  whole  situation  was  laid  before  him,  at  my  request, 
he  promised  to  secure  a  large  gift  from  Mr.  Carnegie, 
which  he  did. 

"Of  another  thing  I  must  be  permitted  to  speak.  I 
consider  my  securing  your  return  to  the  faculty  of  the 
College  to  have  been  a  matter  of  importance  second  to  no 
other  thing  I  did.  I  recall  our  correspondence,  your  great 
hesitancy,  or,  in  fact  at  first  declining,  my  persistence  and 
giving  of  encouraging  conditions,  and  your  final  decision 
to  come.      I  cannot  write  to  you  personally  as  I  would 

258 


President  Bookwalter  Elected 

wish  respecting  you  or  your  worth  as  a  scholarly  in- 
structor, as  my  most  valued  advisor,  as  a  constant  strength 
as  a  man  in  wholesome,  inspiring  influence  among  both 
teachers  and  students,  as  the  one  constant  dependence  of 
us  all.  Your  service  to  the  College  is  beyond  its  power 
of  repay. 

"As  I  now  look  back  over  those  ten  years,  the  getting 
things  on  their  feet  and  started,  the  struggle  and  burden 
of  the  years,  and  the  achieving  of  what  was  finally 
reached,  I  confess  that  I  cannot  see  how  we  accomplished 
it.  I  had  good  people — though  not  very  many  part  of 
the  time — helping;  as  for  myself  I  knew  no  such  thought 
or  word  as  fail,  and  surely  God  was  in  and  over  all." 

It  is  now  desirable  to  go  back  and  trace  the  internal 
affairs  of  the  College  at  this  period  more  fully.  There 
is  necessarily  a  very  close  relation  between  the  inner  and 
outer  life  of  an  institution  such  as  this,  and  naturally 
the  condition  of  one  phase  will  be  reflected  more  or  less 
on  the  other ;  consequently,  in  presenting  the  outer,  some- 
thing of  the  inner  life  has  already  appeared. 

As  has  already  been  seen,  the  whole  matter  of  running 
the  school  and  its  maintenance,  so  far  as  each  passing 
year  was  concerned,  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  fac- 
ulty, certain  specific  sources  of  income  being  set  aside 
for  that  purpose,  and  the  provision  stipulated  that  no  debt 
for  current  expenses  should  be  incurred.  That  gave  the 
College  really  two  business  organizations — one,  the  Board 
of  Trustees  with  its  treasurer,  financial  agents,  and  Exec- 
utive Committee,  concerned  with  the  debt  and  any  ex- 
penses of  a  permanent  nature,  and  the  other  the  faculty 
with  its  own  treasurer  and  committees  concerned  with 
collecting  tuitions  and  the  other  incomes  allotted,  and 
with  paying  teachers  and  other  current  expenses.      This 

259 


Western — Le  and  er -Clark  College 

plan  laid  upon  the  teachers  many  petty  business  details 
and  kept  them  in  much  uncertainty  and  considerable  anx- 
iety as  to  their  salaries,  yet  it  resulted  in  a  studied 
economy  that  made  every  dollar  of  expenditure  count  for 
full  one  hundred  cents.  For  the  twelve  years  that  this 
plan  was  in  operation  the  pay  of  the  teachers  approxi- 
mated ninety  per  cent,  of  their  respective  salaries,  more 
often,  however,  falling  below  than  going  above  that 
amount.  Once  only,  and  that  was  in  the  heat  of  the  debt 
campaign,  were  salaries  paid  in  full ;  low-water  mark  was 
reached  in  1904  with  sixty-five  per  cent.,  a  result  due 
largely  to  a  recent  enlargement  of  the  teaching  force. 

The  attendance,  beginning  with  217  in  1894,  grew  stead- 
ily, with  the  exception  of  the  Spanish-American  War 
period,  until  it  reached  340  in  1901,  the  highest  point 
attained  within  the  ten  years  now  considered.  Larger 
attendance,  of  course,  brought  larger  income  and  more 
enthusiasm,  and  called  for  enlarged  equipment  and  teach- 
ing facilities.     These  came  in  due  order  as  needed. 

The  efficiency  of  the  teaching  staff  during  this  period 
was  maintained  at  a  very  high  degree  of  excellence,  al- 
though changes  were  too  frequent  for  the  best  interests 
of  the  school,  especially  during  the  first  years  of  the  new 
order.  At  the  end  of  two  years,  Professor  Warren 
found  his  health  giving  way  under  the  confinement  of 
the  classroom  and  the  harassing  duties  of  the  vice  presi- 
dency, and  so  resigned  to  seek  recuperation  in  the  out- 
door life  of  a  farmer.  As  he  has  filled  so  large  a  place 
in  the  life  of  Western  College,  and  now  passes  out  of  this 
history,  it  is  fitting  to  pause  here  for  a  little  further  ac- 
count of  him  and  his  career. 

Emmanuel  F.  Warren,  born  and  reared  on  a  farm  near 
Tower  Hill,  Illinois,  attended  district  school,  and  later 

260 


President  Bookzvalter  Elected 

taught  in  the  country.  His  college  education  was  secured 
in  Westfield  College,  after  which  he  taught  a  village 
school,  took  a  commercial  course  in  the  famous  Eastman 
Business  College,  of  Poughkeepsie,  New  York,  served  as 
Principal  of  Dover  Academy  three  years,  took  a  special 
graduate  course  in  the  Bryant  Business  College,  Chicago, 
and  then  became  Principal  of  the  Business  Department  of 
Western  College  in  the  fall  of  1887.  Here  he  displayed 
his  rare  genius  for  organization.  Under  his  leadership 
the  department  attained  remarkable  popularity  and  a 
standing  for  thoroughness  and  efficiency  it  has  not  even 
yet  surpassed.  Professor  Warren  was  most  active  also 
in  other  phases  of  College  life.  An  ardent  athlete,  and 
at  the  same  time  an  earnest  Y.  M.  C.  A.  worker,  he  was 
the  first  to  bring  those  two  phases  of  college  life  together 
and  give  morality  and  the  spirit  of  Christian  manliness 
supremacy  even  in  sports.  During  the  years  he  was 
athletic  manager,  rowdyism  and  profanity  were  practi- 
cally banished  from  the  campus.  As  was  most  natural, 
Professor  Warren  was  soon  made  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday  school  connected  with  the  College  church  and 
served  in  that  capacity  several  years.  Something  of  the 
quality  of  the  man  and  of  the  baseball  team  he  gathered 
from  the  College  was  shown  by  a  rather  amusing  incident 
that  occurred  on  a  baseball  trip.  It  was  late  Saturday 
night  when  the  game  was  over,  and  in  order  to  reach  home 
it  was  necessary  to  make  a  long  overland  journey  far 
into  the  night.  As  the  team  was  loading  into  the  hack 
preparatory  to  starting,  a  crowd  of  friendly  enthusiasts 
gathered  around  and  urged  the  manager  to  wait  until 
morning;  at  the  reply,  "I  can't,  we  must  get  back  for 
Sunday  school,"  the  crowd,  thinking  it  was  being  treated 
to  a  capital   joke,   roared   with  laughter.      Even   when 

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Western — Leander-Clark  College 

solemnly  assured  that  the  load  contained  a  superintendent 
and  four  of  his  teachers,  the  laugh  only  took  on  a  touch 
of  sarcasm  at  the  absurdity  of  such  an  assertion.  Pro- 
fessor Warren  continued  at  the  head  of  the  business 
department  for  three  years  and  was  then  transferred  to 
the  regular  College  faculty,  and  one  year  later  was  made 
business  manager  and  treasurer.  Then  for  two  years  he 
was  head  of  the  business  department  in  York  College, 
from  which  he  was  recalled,  in  1894,  to  assist  President 
Bookwalter  in  the  reorganization  of  Western  College. 
After  his  retirement  from  teaching,  in  1896,  he  lived  a 
happy,  useful  life,  foremost  in  the  religious  affairs  of  his 
community  until  his  untimely  death  by  accident  at  his 
home  in  Pleasantville,  Iowa,  February  9,  1898. 

Miss  LeFevre  retired  from  the  faculty  at  the  end  of 
one  year  and  was  succeeded  by  Miss  Maud  Fulkerson,  a 
graduate  of  DePauw  University,  student  of  German  and 
French  in  Europe  for  one  year,  and  recently  Professor  of 
Modern  Languages  in  Washburn  College.  She  filled  her 
position  satisfactorily  for  three  years  and  then  resigned 
to  become  the  wife  of  Professor  Bower. 

Professor  Leonard  continued  in  the  Chair  of  Natural 
Science  only  two  years  and  was  then  chosen  Assistant 
State  Geologist  of  Iowa,  which  position  he  held  four 
years.  Then  he  was  Assistant  Professor  of  Geology  in 
the  University  of  Missouri  for  one  year.  Since  1903  he 
has  been  State  Geologist  and  Professor  of  Geology  in  the 
University  of  North  Dakota. 

Professor  Colebeck  remained  as  Professor  of  Ancient 
Languages  three  years  and  then  continued  his  graduate 
studies  in  the  Universities  of  Chicago,  Yale,  and  Wis- 
consin.     From  1900  to  1907  he  was  Professor  of  Greek 

262 


President  Bookwalter  Elected 

and  Latin  in  Southern  University,  and  since  that  has  held 
the  same  position  in  Birmingham  University. 

The  first  addition  made  to  the  faculty  under  the  Book- 
waiter  administration  was  Professor  B.  F.  McClelland, 
who  was  called  to  the  Chair  of  English  Literature  and 
the  Principalship  of  the  Academy  in  the  fall  of  1895.  He 
had  come  up  through  the  public  schools  and  Westfield 
College,  had  been  eminently  successful  as  a  superintend- 
ent of  city  schools,  and  in  the  meantime  had  qualified 
himself  for  still  more  efficient  work  by  pursuing  summer 
courses  in  the  Illinois  State  Normal,  in  Chautauqua  Col- 
lege, and  later  in  the  University  of  Chicago.  Professor 
McClelland  brought  to  his  work  the  skill  of  a  trained 
pedagogue  added  to  an  impetuous  energy  and  a  lofty 
integrity  of  character.  His  influence  was  soon  felt  for 
good  throughout  the  whole  life  of  the  school.  When 
Professor  Warren  resigned,  in  1896,  Professor  McClel- 
land was  elected  vice  president,  and  was  also  chosen 
faculty  treasurer,  in  both  of  which  capacities  he  was  an 
invaluable  servant.  He  possessed  an  affable  disposition, 
took  a  warm  interest  in  boys  and  girls,  especially  those  of 
the  timid  or  discouraged  sort,  and  somehow  managed  to 
meet  and  greet  every  stranger  who  came  about  the  Col- 
lege, whether  student  or  patron.  As  faculty  treasurer, 
Professor  McClelland  seemed  to  feel  himself  charged 
with  the  financial  welfare  of  his  colaborers,  and  well  did 
he  guard  his  trust ;  no  office  ever  had  a  more  ardent  or 
faithful  keeper.  His  intelligent  management  of  finances 
and  his  sedulous  attention  to  details  helped  largely  to  keep 
the  pay  of  teachers  up  to  a  respectable  amount. 

Professor  McClelland's  relation  to  the  local  community 
was  but  little  less  intimate  and  helpful  than  to  the  College 
itself.     He  was  active  in  municipal  and  social  affairs,  and 

263 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

especially  in  the  religious  work  of  his  Church.  Most  of 
the  time  he  was  with  the  College  he  was  superintendent 
of  Sunday  school.  A  life  so  many-sided  and  active 
necessarily  consumed  vital  energy  at  a  rapid  rate. 

Near  the  close  of  the  fall  term,  in  1900,  Professor 
McClelland's  constitution,  never  abundantly  strong,  gave 
way,  and,  after  a  few  days  of  severe  illness,  he  died 
December  28,  the  first  teacher  in  the  history  of  the  Col- 
lege, so  far  as  the  writer  is  aware,  to  fall  at  his  post.  The 
student  community,  ever  sensitive  to  sorrow  as  to  glad- 
ness, was  deeply  touched  by  the  loss  of  one  who  stood  so 
high  in  the  College  family.  The  following  three  tributes, 
one  by  his  pastor,  one  by  his  associates  in  the  faculty,  and 
one  by  his  students,  are  taken  from  the  College  Era : 

"professor  benjamin  f.  m'clelland. 
"The  death  of  Professor  Benjamin  Franklin  McClel- 
land, A.M.,  of  the  Chair  of  English  Literature  and 
History  in  Western  College,  has  brought  to  his  friends, 
and  to  the  institution  with  which  he  was  connected  as  an 
instructor  for  more  than  five  years,  an  inexpressible  sense 
of  sorrow  and  loss.  Personally,  I  feel  that  any  tribute 
I  can  bring  to  his  memory  must  be  too  feeble  worthily  to 
express  even  my  own  high  appreciation  of  his  character 
and  worth.  I  have  known  him  intimately  the  past  three 
years.  To  know  him  as  I  have  known  him  is  to  !  we 
him  and  to  prize  him.  His  death  comes  to  me,  therefore, 
as  a  personal  bereavement.  When  I  think  of  him  and 
of  what  he  was  in  character  and  life,  what  he  was  in  man- 
hood and  unselfishness,  and  what  he  was  as  a  cherished 
friend  and  fellow  worker,  I  count  it  no  ordinary  privilege 
to  speak  some  words  of  commendation  of  his  career  and 
usefulness.       And  yet  I   am  too  much   stunned   at  the 

264 


President  Bookwalter  Elected 

sudden  removal  of  one  so  much  esteemed  and  so  worthy 
of  grateful  recognition  to  command  adequate  thought  or 
utterance. 

"Oh,  the  mystery  of  what  we  call  death !  Only  a  short 
time  ago  the  loved  teacher  and  friend  was  with  us  in  the 
strength  of  his  noble  manhood,  with  eager  eye  and  high 
aspiration,  but  now  voiceless  he  is  removed  from  us,  an 
unstrung  harp,  a  shattered  vase  of  precious  ointment ! 
Father,  if  we  were  to  stop  and  question  the  wisdom  or 
goodness  of  thy  dealings  with  us  we  should  grow  rebel- 
lious. But  we  know  thou  art  too  wise  to  err,  and  too 
good  to  be  unkind,  that  thou  doest  all  things  well,  and 
that  all  things  work  together  for  good  to  them  that  love 
thee.  And  still,  O  Father,  it  seems  to  us  that  when  we 
need  it  most  the  strong  staff  and  the  beautiful  rod  is 
broken.  The  teacher  has  taught  his  last  lesson.  Eager 
students  thirsting  for  knowledge  will  never  more  sit  at 
his  feet  and  receive  instruction  from  his  lips. 

"  'Dead  he  lies  among  his  books, 
The  peace  of  God  in  all  his  looks ; 
And  the  volumes  from  the  shelves 
Watch  him  silent  as  themselves. 
Ah !  his  hand  will  never  more 
Turn  their  storied  pages  o'er, 
Never  more  his  lips  repeat 
Songs  of  theirs,  however  sweet.' 

"We  shall  never  hear  his  voice  again.  We  shall  never 
more  see  his  smile  or  receive  his  benediction.  He  will 
not  again  fill  his  accustomed  place.  When  we  think  of 
what  he  was  to  us  in  so  many  ways  and  on  so  many  occas- 
ions we  are  inclined  to  lament  our  loss  rather  than  to 
rejoice  in  his  gain.     Nay,  what  we  call  loss  may  even  be 

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Western — Leander-Clark  College 

gain  to  us.  In  the  supreme  plan  and  purpose  of  God 
nothing  good  is  ever  lost.  Social  affection  cannot  die; 
the  fruits  of  culture  are  perpetuated  in  character  forever. 
Memory  lives.  Nothing  is  wasted  of  the  soul-treasures 
of  the  departed,  and  nothing  of  the  good  which  has  been 
done  by  them  while  in  the  flesh.  So  it  is  that  what  seems 
to  us  loss  is  not  always  really  so,  for  though  we  are 
separated  from  cherished  spirits  they  are  not  lost  to  us. 
neither  is  the  influence  of  their  lives,  for  though  dead 
they  yet  speak.  Let  us  not  be  selfish,  then,  in  our  pres- 
ent sorrow,  but  rather  let  us  rejoice  in  the  gain  that  has 
come  to  a  fellow  traveler.  After  a  brief  and  toilsome 
day  he  has  entered  into  his  rest.  Heaven  is  richer  now 
for  his  going  hence,  for  all  his  gentleness  and  truth,  his 
winning  ways  and  humble  faith,  his  purity  of  thought  and 
guileless  speech  will  make  him  at  home  in  the  city  'whose 
white  portal  shuts  back  the  sound  of  sin.'  Oh,  brother, 
thine  is  the  crown  and  palm,  ours  but  the  dust,  the  coffin, 
and  the  sod;  yet  we  will  forget  our  grief  in  thy  joy,  pro- 
moted now  to  the  dignities  and  trusts  for  which  thou 
hast  been  preparing  from  the  days  of  thy  youth!  Ah! 
what  gain !  Earth  with  its  struggles  and  weaknesses,  its 
sorrows,  and  its  pains  exchanged  for  heaven  and  ever- 
lasting life! 

"Moreover,  our  gain  in  the  substantial  legacy  which 
our  friend  has  left  us  is  equally  real  with  his,  and  is 
another  source  of  abiding  consolation.  What  is  that 
legacy?  Born  of  sturdy  Scotch-Irish  lineage,  enjoying 
early  and  careful  parental  nurture,  inheriting  an  earnest 
but  even  temperament,  with  liberal  culture,  he  early  gave 
promise  of  a  useful  life.  That  promise  was  realized  in  a 
notable  sense.  That  is  the  legacy  he  has  left  us — the 
legacy  of  a  good  life,  the  memory  of  a  good  man.     Some 

266 


President  Bookivalter  Elected 

of  the  elements  entering  into  this  choice  legacy  which  he 
has  bequeathed  to  us  are : 

"1.  His  true  manliness.  Buckminster  says  that  the 
sublimest  thing  in  nature  is  the  moral  grandeur  of  a  true 
manhood.  But  long  before  the  days  of  this  writer  an 
old  Latin  comedian  said:  'I  am  a  man,  and  I  regard 
nothing  pertaining  to  humanity  as  foreign  to  me.'  And 
long  before  the  days  of  this  astute  writer,  a  dying  king 
of  Israel  left  this  solemn  message  to  his  son  and  succes- 
sor:  'I  go  the  way  of  all  the  earth ;  be  thou  strong,  there- 
fore, and  show  thyself  a  man.'  And  long  after  that 
advice  was  given  to  an  heir  of  the  throne,  a  distinguished 
apostle  concludes  two  of  his  immortal  epistles  with  the 
same  practical  admonition.  In  one  he  says :  'Stand  fast 
in  the  faith,  quit  you  like  men,  be  strong.'  In  the  other 
he  says :  'Be  strong  in  the  Lord  and  in  the  power  of  his 
might.' 

"In  what  does  true  manliness  consist?  We  recognize 
it  wherever  it  is  found.  It  stands  out  boldly  in  history. 
It  has  been  eulogized  in  poetry  and  immortalized  in  song. 
The  tongue  never  grows  weary  of  speaking  its  praises. 
In  what  does  it  consist  ?  Not  in  strength  and  size  of  the 
human  body,  not  even  in  intellectual  greatness,  not  in 
chafing  under  wholesome  restraints,  not  in  imitating  in- 
discriminately, the  conduct  or  habits  of  others.  No,  it 
consists  in  distinct  moral  qualities,  love  of  virtue,  integ- 
rity, kindness,  and  thoughtfulness  of  the  rights  of  others, 
moral  courage,  and  stability  and  faithfulness  of  character. 
True  manliness,  like  true  politeness,  has  its  seat  in  the 
heart.  It  consists  in  its  essence  in  love  to  God  and  love  to 
men.  Professor  McClelland  possessed  these  qualities  in 
a  preeminent  sense.  He  had  high  ideals.  He  was  consci- 
entious and  transparent.    He  was  a  manly  man. 

267 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

"2.  He  has  left  us  an  example  of  marked  heroism. 
He  had  a  frail  body,  but  his  life  work  was  performed 
with  the  valor  of  a  giant.  His  courage  was  not  the  least 
among  his  winning  qualities. 

"3.  His  generosity.  He  loved  his  fellow-men  and  he 
lived  for  them.  His  self-forgetfulness  was  one  of  his 
notable  characteristics.  In  his  last  illness  his  thoughts 
seemed  constantly  to  be  upon  others.  He  even  advised 
against  having  an  only  brother  called  to  his  bedside 
because  it  would  take  him  from  his  business  at  a  time 
when  he  could  not  well  be  away,  and  besides,  because  it 
would  spoil  his  Christmas  at  home.  It  was  because  he 
loved  men  that  he  had  such  a  strong  place  in  the  affec- 
tions of  those  who  knew  him. 

"4.  His  loyalty  to  his  church  and  pastor.  He  was 
steadfast  in  his  devotion  and  service  to  the  church  of  his 
choice.  His  example  in  this  respect  is  not  only  an  inspir- 
ation, but  it  abides  as  a  benediction. 

"5.  His  sincere  and  earnest  Christian  life.  This  be- 
gan during  the  first  year  as  a  student  in  college.  His 
consistent  living  was  ever  a  strong  testimony  to  the  genu- 
ineness of  his  religious  profession  and  an  unquestioned 
commendation  to  this  noble  character.  He  loved  his 
work  as  a  teacher  of  young  people,  and  he  performed  it 
with  reverent  and  benevolent  motives. 

"His  life  was  one  of  consuming  activity.  Though  he 
died  at  the  age  of  forty-three,  he  lived  long,  because  he 
lived  so  well  and  so  fast.  Of  him  it  can  truly  be  said 
that  as  a  man,  as  an  educator,  as  a  citizen,  as  a  Christian 
worker,  in  all  his  relations  with  his  fellows,  he  was  ever 
guided  by  a  high  sense  of  duty.  The  memory  of  his  life 
is  a  priceless  legacy  to  the  community,  the  College,  the 

268 


President  Bookwalter  Elected 

Church,  and  to  his  personal  friends.  To  him  belongs  the 
Master's  highest  encomium,  'Well  done,  good  and  faithful 
servant.' 

"Marion  R.  Drury." 

"tribute  of  respect  to  a  fallen  comrade. 

"Passed  by  order  of  the  faculty  of  Western  College, 
December  29th,  1900. 

"We,  who  were  so  intimately  associated  with  Professor 
B.  F.  McClelland  in  the  faculty,  desire  to  pay  this  formal 
tribute  of  respect  and  esteem  to  his  memory. 

"We  sorrow  over  his  untimely  taking  off  as  only  those 
who  are  enlisted  heart  and  soul  in  some  great  cause  can 
sorrow  at  the  loss  of  one  whose  presence  has  become  a 
benediction,  and  whose  services  are  all  but  indispensable. 

"Professor  McClelland  had  endeared  himself  to  his 
associates  by  his  genial  and  charitable  spirit,  but  more  by 
his  fidelity  and  ardent  devotion  to  a  lofty  sense  of  duty. 

"Keenly  alive  to  his  responsibilities  as  a  teacher  and  a 
most  conscientious  steward  of  the  business  entrusted  to 
his  care,  he,  in  a  large  measure,  sacrificed  his  life  that  the 
cause  he  served  might  not  suffer  at  his  hands. 

"Western  College,  the  church  of  his  choice,  and  the 
local  community  have  suffered  a  loss  that  will  not  soon 
be  repaired. 

"We  who  knew  Professor  McClelland  best,  learned  to 
appreciate  his  work  as  a  man,  and  to  value  his  work. 

"He  was  energetic,  faithful,  punctual,  and  courageous, 
a  conscientious  student,  an  enthusiastic  teacher. 

"May  all  that  was  best  in  his  life  remain  as  a  benedic- 
tion upon  the  cause  of  education  in  which  he  was  so  thor- 

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Western- — Leander-Clark  Colleger 

oughly  enlisted,  and  especially  upon  this  College  to  which 
he  gave  the  richest  treasures  of  his  heart  and  mind. 

"L.    BOOKWALTER, 

"H.  W.  Ward, 

"Committee." 

"memorial  of  professor  b.  f.  m'clelland. 

"Recommended  by  the  committee  on  resolutions  ap- 
pointed by  the  student  body,  and  unanimously  adopted. 

"The  death  angel  having  entered  our  midst,  and  having 
removed  one  whom  we  have  learned  to  love  and  respect : 
We,  the  students  of  Western  College,  moved  by  the  deep- 
est sorrow  over  the  loss  of  our  beloved  instructor,  the 
late  Professor  McClelland,  desire  to  place  on  record  this 
memorial  of  our  departed  friend. 

"We  recognize  that  in  Professor  McClelland  we  have 
lost  not  only  a  respected  instructor,  but  that  each  of  us 
has  lost  a  personal  friend,  an  elder  brother,  to  whom  none 
of  us  ever  appealed  in  vain  for  sympathy  or  aid. 

Professor  McClelland,  during  his  years  of  association 
with  us,  identified  himself  with  the  very  highest  interests 
of  the  College  in  general,  and  with  the  personal  welfare 
and  advancement  of  every  individual  student ;  and  his 
daily  life  was  to  each  one  an  inspiration  to  a  more  diligent 
service,  a  purer  living. 

"While  we  mourn  the  loss  of  our  dear  Professor,  we 
rejoice  in  the  nobility  of  his  character,  and  in  the  blessed 
hope  of  a  resurrection,  when  our  Heavenly  Father  shall 
awaken  us  all  in  a  better  life,  and  with  us  shall  awaken 
our  loved  Professor.  For  'God's  ringer  touched  him  and 
he  slept.' 

"Professor  McClelland  might  truly  say  with  the  Apostle 
Paul :  'For  me  to  live  is  Christ,  but  to  die  is  gain    *    *    * 

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President  Bookwalter  Elected 

for  I  am  in  a  strait  betwixt  two,  having  a  desire  to  depart, 
and  to  be  with  Christ  which  is  far  better ;  nevertheless,  to 
abide  in  the  flesh  is  more  needful  for  you.'  And  again, 
'For  I  am  now  ready  to  be  offered,  and  the  time  of  my 
departure  is  at  hand.  I  have  fought  the  good  fight,  I 
have  finished  my  course,  I  have  kept  the  faith;  hence- 
forth there  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown  of  righteousness, 
which  Jehovah,  the  righteous  judge,  shall  give  me  on  that 
day,  and  not  to  me  only,  but  unto  all  them  also  that  love 
his  appearing.' 

"To  the  bereaved  ones  we  extend  our  loving  sympathy, 
and  commend  them  to  the  care  of  him  who  'doeth  all 
things  well.' 

"  The  Lord  giveth,  and  the  Lord  taketh  away.  Blessed 
be  the  name  of  the  Lord.' 

"G.  B.  Jackson, 
"Mabel  Smith, 
"W.  R.  Stouffer, 

"Committee." 

The  same  year  that  brought  Professor  McClelland  to 
the  school  brought  also  Miss  Anna  Richards  as  Teacher 
of  Elocution  and  Physical  Culture.  This  department  had 
not  yet  attained  prominence,  and  for  some  years  past  had 
been  entirely  neglected.  Miss  Richards  possessed  an 
earnest  personality,  rare  teaching  ability,  and  high 
perfection  in  her  art,  insomuch  that  she  soon  built  up 
a  strong  department  that  has  since  remained  a  necessary 
part  of  the  College's  culture  life.  It  was  a  cause  of  keen 
regret  that  ill  health  compelled  her  to  retire  after  two 
years;  she  was  succeeded  by  Mrs.  Minnie  Gates.  The 
department  has  been  most  fortunate  in  having  at  its  head 
a  succession  of  teachers  such  as  Miss  Mary  Peterson, 

271 


Western — Leander-Clark  Colleger 

with  her  charming  personality,  contagious  enthusiasm, 
and  fine  artistic  sensibility ;  Miss  G.  Mabel  Wallace,  with 
her  bright  animation  and  quick  intelligence;  Forrest  S. 
Cartwright,  with  his  logical  sense  of  oratorical  construc- 
tion;  and  Mrs.  May  Louise  Wilson,  with  her  queenly 
dignity  of  bearing,  her  understanding  sympathy  of  inter- 
pretation, and  her  unusual  dramatic  power. 

The  Chair  of  Natural  Science,  previously  occupied  by 
Professor  Leonard,  was  filled  in  1896  by  calling  to  that 
position  B.  A.  Sweet,  a  successful  school  superintendent 
of  Illinois,  more  recently  a  graduate  student  in  science  in 
the  University  of  Chicago.  Professor  Sweet,  with  his 
overflowing  enthusiasm,  untiring  activity,  and  genial  com- 
panionableness  endeared  himself  to  everybody  during  the 
three  years  he  consented  to  remain  in  the  position  before 
returning  to  complete  his  graduate  studies.  He  was 
almost  boyishly  fond  of  college  sports,  and,  as  a  fisher- 
man, was  perhaps  the  most  passionately  eager  and  amaz- 
ingly successful  that  ever  agitated  the  muddy  waters  of 
the  Iowa. 

Professor  Thomas  E.  Savage  followed  Professor  Sweet 
in  the  Chair  of  Science  in  1899.  He  came  directly  from 
graduate  study  in  the  State  University  of  Iowa  and  filled 
the  position  for  four  years  with  preeminent  ability  and 
thoroughness.  He  left  to  accept  the  position  of  Assist- 
ant State  Geologist  of  Iowa,  and  later  was  called  to  the 
University  of  Illinois  as  Professor  of  Geology.  In  1902 
the  Chair  of  Natural  Science  in  Western  College  was 
divided,  and  Professor  J.  W.  Bowen  was  made  Professor 
of  Physical  Science,  which  position  he  held  two  years ; 
Professor  Savage  continued  in  the  Department  of  Biology 
one  year  longer,  and  was  succeeded  by  S.  W.  Collett  for 
two  years. 

272 


REV   FRANKLIN  E.  BROOKE,  D.D. 
President  since  j90S. 


President  Bookwalter  Elected 

The  faculty  of  the  College  of  Liberal  Arts  was  farther 
enlarged  in  the  fall  of  1897  by  the  addition  of  Professor 
H.  W.  Ward,  called  back  to  Western  after  an  absence  of 
four  years,  spent  partly  in  graduate  study  in  the  Univer- 
sity of  Chicago  and  partly  as  teacher  in  Manchester  Col- 
lege. His  return  has  helped  to  form  a  thread  of  con- 
tinuity in  the  internal  life  of  the  College,  an  essential 
hitherto  wanting  in  the  history  of  Western  College.  Pro- 
fessor Bartlett  furnished  the  thread  of  connection  for  the 
first  ten  years  of  the  College's  life;  President  E.  B.  Kep- 
hart  covered  a  span  of  thirteen  years  and  gave  the  College 
a  sense  of  solidity  and  permanence  that  went  far  toward 
carrying  it  through  its  later  times  of  stress  and  storm ; 
President  Bookwalter,  with  six  years  as  professor  and 
ten  years  as  president,  the  two  periods  separated  by  a  long 
interval,  covered  a  longer  span  yet  and  helped  the  College 
to  establish  a  well-planned,  consistent,  and  far-reaching 
policy,  and  some  sense  of  the  bond  that  links  past,  present, 
and  future  in  unity  of  purpose  and  of  affection ;  Profes- 
sor Ward,  with  only  nineteen  years  of  actual  teaching  in 
this  College,  holds  the  record  so  far  for  length  of  service 
on  the  faculty,  a  rather  sad  commentary  on  the  brevity 
of  the  average  duration  of  service  in  that  body.  It  may 
be  noticed,  however,  as  a  hopeful  sign  that  those  two 
longest  terms  overlap  for  several  years  at  the  middle,  and 
in  the  extremes  reach  over  a  considerable  portion  of 
the  history  of  the  institution ;  and,  furthermore,  that 
Professor  Yothers  and  Miss  Cronise,  who  jointly  have 
already  reached  the  next  longest  terms,  date  back  into  that 
overlapping  period. 

Upon  the  death  of  Professor  McClelland,  Professor 
Ward  was  transferred  to  the  Chair  of  English  Literature, 

273 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

and  at  the  same  time  was  elected  vice  president  of  the 
College. 

The  Chair  of  Mathematics,  vacated  in  1896  by  the 
resignation  of  Professor  Warren,  was  at  that  time  filled 
by  the  selection  of  Professor  Raymond  E.  Bower,  who 
served  the  department  with  keen  alertness  and  efficiency 
for  two  years  and  then  retired  to  fit  himself  for  the 
medical  profession.  He  was  succeeded  by  Professor 
J.  F.  Yothers  in  1898,  who,  with  the  exception  of  a  year 
in  study  at  the  University  of  Chicago,  has  since  filled 
the  position  to  the  gratification  of  authorities  and  stu- 
dents. For  some  time  he  was  treasurer  of  the  faculty 
fund,  and  with  the  change  under  the  endowment  he  was 
made  College  registrar,  in  which  capacity,  as  well  as  in 
the  class  room,  his  services  became  indispensable.  Pro- 
fessor Yothers  is  also  a  most  important  connecting  link 
between  the  College  and  the  larger  social,  civic,  and  relig- 
ious life  of  the  community. 

When,  in  1898,  Miss  Fulkerson  laid  down  the  work  of 
the  Department  of  Modern  Languages,  Miss  Florence  M. 
Cronise  was  chosen  to  fill  the  position.  She  had  already 
spent  two  extended  periods  in  study  in  Europe  and  has 
since  taken  one  year's  leave  of  absence  for  further  study 
abroad.  As  a  missionary  with  practical  experience  in  the 
foreign  field,  she  has  been  able  to  give  valuable  help  to 
the  mission  band  of  the  school. 

Professor  J.  A.  Ward,  who  had  been  Principal  of  the 
College  of  Commerce  in  1890-91,  was  called  to  that  posi- 
tion again  in  1898,  and  later  transferred  to  the  Chair  of 
Philosophy  in  the  College  of  Liberal  Arts.  During  this 
period  the  Department  of  Commerce  flourished  as  it  had 
previously  done  under  the  leadership  of  Professor  War- 
ren.    Prof.  J.  A.  Ward  withdrew  from  teaching  in  1902. 

274 


President  Bookzvalter  Elected 

The  Normal  School  of  Western  College  was  created 
as  a  distinct  department  in  1898,  and  with  it  was  joined 
the  new  Chair  of  Economics  and  Sociology.  To  this 
position  Professor  Romanzo  Adams  was  called  from  the 
graduate  school  of  the  University  of  Michigan.  Professor 
Adams  remained  two  years  and  then  went  to  earn  his 
Ph.D.  degree  in  the  University  of  Chicago,  after  which 
he  was  made  Professor  of  Education  in  the  University 
of  Nevada. 

The  Conservatory  of  Music  had  been  seriously  affected 
by  the  panic  years  and  recovered  somewhat  slowly.  The 
first  two  years  after  the  crisis  August  Hailing  had  charge 
of  the  Musical  Department.  Then  for  three  years 
Francis  W.  Gates  conducted  the  Conservatory,  giving 
instruction  in  both  piano  and  voice.  Then  came  a  great 
expansion  for  the  Department  of  Music.  The  Director 
of  the  Conservatory  now  gave  his  whole  time  to  piano 
and  organ,  and  a  distinct  department  of  voice  was  created. 
George  Pratt  Maxin,  of  New  England,  was  made 
director,  and  Miss  Marie  Bookwalter  principal  of  the 
Voice  Department.  Professor  Maxim,  a  man  of  sterling 
worth  and  a  musician  of  very  high  attainments,  gave  a 
strong  impetus  to  this  department  for  two  years  and  then 
returned  east  to  take  up  musical  work  there.  Dr.  Charles 
R.  Fisher  had  charge  of  the  department  for  one  year. 
Then,  in  1902,  John  Knowles  Weaver,  a  graduate  of  the 
Royal  Conservatory,  Leipsic,  Germany,  was  made 
director.  Professor  Weaver,  a  finished  musician  and  a 
conscientious  worker,  set  himself  steadfastly  to  build  up 
the  department;  he  remained  seven  years. 

Miss  Marie  Bookwalter  was  elected,  in  1899,  teacher 
of  voice  at  a  time  when  the  Department  of  Voice  existed 
only  in  theory.      So  capable,  so  energetic,  and  so  master- 

275 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

ful  did  she  prove  that  in  a  year  or  two  the  department 
became  one  of  the  most  flourishing  connected  with  the 
College. 

Other  teachers  in  the  College  faculty  for  comparatively 
short  periods  were :  Raymond  P.  Dougherty,  Professor 
of  Greek  and  Principal  of  the  Normal  School  one  year; 
Ida  B.  Fleischer,  supply  Professor  of  Modern  Languages 
one  year;  Charles  Ray  Pearsall,  Professor  of  Greek  and 
Latin  two  years ;  and  W.  R.  Morrow,  Assistant  Professor 
of  Greek  two  terms;  Mrs.  Laura  McClelland,  as  faculty 
treasurer  at  her  husband's  death  and  as  teacher  in  the 
Academy,  gave  most  faithful  service  four  years. 

Student  life  at  this  period  was  earnest  and  full  of 
activity.  Several  departments  of  athletics  attained  prom- 
inence. Within  this  period  the  College  gained  some 
prominence  in  the  State  Oratorical  Contest.  A  quartette, 
composed  of  Frank  Maxwell,  E.  B.  Ward,  C.  F.  Ward, 
and  A.  A.  Ward,  styled  the  Maxward  Quartette,  made 
the  College  known  by  their  songs  at  conventions  and  camp 
meetings,  and  by  a  summer  concert  tour  through  Iowa 
and  Illinois.  Early  in  this  period  the  first  paper  con- 
ducted by  students,  and  at  the  same  time  confined  wholly 
to  the  College  news,  was  started  by  the  Philophronean 
Literary  Society;  the  paper  was  called  the  College  Era. 

Perhaps  the  most  characteristic  student  activity  at  this 
period,  outside  of  the  regular  college  and  literary  work, 
was  in  the  religious  life  centering  about  the  two  Christian 
Associations.  Perhaps  no  other  period  of  equal  duration 
could  count  more  earnest  workers  or  show  deeper  spirit- 
ual consciousness.  For  a  short  time  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cain 
were  here  in  person,  and,  even  while  absent,  exerted  a 
strong  influence  on  the  religious  life  of  the  school.  Here 
was  A.   G.    Bookwalter,   later  so  prominent  in  eastern 

276 


President  Bookzvalter  Elected 

Y.  M.  C.  A.  circles,  and  here  were  his  sisters  active  in 
the  Y.  W.  C.  A.  Here  also  were  Lucie  Smith,  Julia 
Overholser,  Grace  Halstead,  Lois  and  Lizzie  Talbot 
among  the  girls,  and  Philo  Drury,  E.  B.  Ward,  E.  A. 
Benson,  S.  S.  Wyand,  George  Jackson,  J.  H.  Yaggy, 
Charlie  Ennis,  H.  T.  Miller,  and  many  more  among  the 
boys.  From  this  period,  too,  have  come  most  of  our 
foreign  missionaries.  The  mere  list  is  eloquent :  Besides 
the  Cains,  there  are  Mr.  and  Mrs.  P.  W.  Drury,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  E.  B.  Ward,  Frank  Field,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Trindle, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  A.  Ward,  Rilla  and  Angie  Akin,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Doty,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  T.  Miller. 

This  period  started  again  the  interrupted  stream  of 
graduates  to  Yale,  first  A.  G.  Bookwalter,  then  Philo 
Drury,  J.  E.  Foster,  J.  W.  Coddington,  C.  F.  Ward, 
Frank  Field,  S.  S.  Wyand,  W.  A.  Brenner,  W.  S.  Donat, 
G.  B.  Jackson,  A.  A.  Ward,  J.  H.  Yaggy,  H.  W.  Cramer, 
J.  M.  Skrable,  B.  F.  Roe,  and  J.  J.  Shambaugh.  Others 
went  to  pursue  advanced  work  in  other  universities, 
especially  in  Chicago  University  and  the  State  University 
of  Iowa.  J.  H.  Underwood  received  the  first  scholar- 
ship granted  to  a  student  of  Western  in  the  State  Univer- 
sity. 

On  the  whole,  this  was  a  period  of  sound  scholarship 
and  serious  activity. 


277 


Chapter  XII. 

THE  NEXT  STEP.  MAJOR  CLARK'S  PROPOSITION. 
DELAYED  HOPES.  INAUGURATION  OF  PRESIDENT  KEP- 
HART.  ENDOWMENT  CAMPAIGN.  MAJOR  LEANDER 
CLARK.  SEMI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION.  INTERNAL 
AFFAIRS 

When  the  shouting  over  the  debt  had  subsided  and  the 
fire-works  had  gone  out  the  College  authorities  became 
fully  aware  of  what  they  had  only  partly  seen  before, 
namely,  that  the  serious  work  of  making  a  College  had 
only  begun.  No  new  income  had  been  created  with  which 
to  enlarge  the  life  of  the  College,  and  the  people  had  so 
exhausted  themselves  in  the  desperate  effort  to  throw 
off  the  debt  that  they  must  be  given  a  breathing  spell  be- 
fore a  further  appeal  to  them  could  be  made  successfully. 
Besides,  most  of  the  pledges  were  in  notes  to  be  paid  in 
installments,  or  at  some  future  day.  It  was  plain  that  a 
permanent  income  must  be  provided. 

In  his  report  to  the  Board,  in  June,  1902,  President 
Bookwalter  recommended  the  raising  of  $150,000  endow- 
ment in  order  to  secure  an  adequate  income  for  the  Col- 
lege. The  Board  heartily  approved  the  recommendation 
and  appointed  President  Bookwalter,  Leander  Clark, 
M.  R.  Drury,  and  Alexander  Anderson  a  committee  to 
draw  up  plans  for  carrying  out  the  endowment  move- 
ment ;  later  L.  B.  Hix,  secretary  of  the  Board,  was  added 
to  the  committee.  At  the  same  time  the  Board  proposed 
to  give  to  any  one  who  would  contribute  $50,000  toward 
the  endowment  fund,  the  privilege  of  naming  the  College. 

It  was  estimated  that  about  five  years  would  be  re- 
quired to  secure  the  endowment  proposed  and  derive  the 

278 


The  Next  Step 

income  therefrom ;  hence  President  Bookwalter  was  in- 
structed to  procure  a  temporary  endowment  or  pledges 
to  pay  a  given  sum  annually  for  five  years,  such  annual 
payments  to  aggregate  at  least  one  thousand  dollars  and 
to  be  available  for  paying  current  expenses. 

Thus  the  year  closed  amid  high  hopes  and  great 
expectations,  though  the  hopes  rested  upon  general  rather 
than  upon  specific  grounds.  The  plan  of  operating  the 
school  on  its  incomes  was  still  adhered  to,  except  that 
for  the  coming  year  the  teachers  were  guaranteed  ninety 
per  cent,  of  their  salaries.  It  was  at  this  time,  too,  that 
the  Chair  of  Natural  Science  was  divided  and  a  teacher 
of  Physical  Science  was  added  to  the  faculty;  this  neces- 
sarily made  heavier  running  expenses,  and,  together  with 
an  unexpected  falling  off  in  the  tuitions,  caused  an  acute 
situation  at  the  end  of  two  years. 

The  first  year  passed  without  anything  tangible  as  a 
result  of  the  efforts  to  secure  an  endowment.  Then 
came  the  first  great  encouragement.  At  its  meeting,  in 
June,  1903,  the  Board  received  from  Major  Leander 
Clark,  of  Toledo,  Iowa,  the  following  proposition : 

"Toledo,  Iowa,  June  13,  1903. 
"To  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Western  College: 

"Gentlemen  :  For  some  months  past  I  have  had  under 
consideration  the  resolution  passed  by  you  at  your  meet- 
ing in  June,  1902,  wherein  you  approve  of  a  movement 
to  raise  an  endowment  fund  for  the  College,  and  propose 
to  give  the  name  of  the  College  to  any  one  who  will 
donate  the  sum  of  fifty  thousand  dollars  to  such  an 
endowment  fund. 

"I  have  lived  in  Toledo  for  many  years,  have  seen  the 
College  established  here,  have  watched  with  interest  its 

279 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

varying  fortunes  and  have  observed  the  benefits  it  has 
conferred  upon  the  comunity  and  upon  the  Church  under 
whose  auspices  it  is  managed,  in  providing  the  means 
of  a  good  education  to  many  who  would  otherwise  have 
been  deprived  of  such  advantages,  and  I  have  from  time 
to  time  contributed  to  its  support,  believing  that  in  so 
doing  I  was  aiding  a  worthy  cause.  And  now  that  the 
burden  of  debt  has  been  lifted,  it  is  my  opinion  that  the 
next  necessity  of  the  institution  is  an  ample,  permanent, 
and  well-guarded  endowment. 

"To  encourage  the  raising  of  such  fund,  I  have  con- 
cluded to  accept  the  proposition  made  in  your  resolution 
above  referred  to,  and  I  hereby  propose  to  lay  the  foun- 
dation for  an  endowment  by  making  a  donation  of  the 
sum  of  fifty  thousand  dollars  on  the  terms  and  conditions 
following,  to  wit: 

"1.  Said  donation  is  to  be  payable,  according  to  tin 
terms  hereof,  in  cash,  or  in  notes  bearing  interest  at  not 
less  than  five  per  cent,  per  annum,  payable  annually,  and 
secured  by  first  mortgages  on  clear  and  unincumbered 
farm  lands  worth  twice  the  value  of  the  sums  secured. 

"2.  Said  donation  is  payable  upon  the  express  condi- 
tion that  said  College  or  its  friends  shall  secure  additional 
donations  to  said  endowment  fund  in  the  sum  of  one 
hundred  thousand  dollars  in  cash,  or  in  notes  bearing 
interest  at  not  less  than  five  per  cent,  per  annum,  payable 
annually,  and  secured  by  first  mortgages  on  clear  and  un- 
incumbered farm  lands  worth  twice  the  amounts  so 
secured — the  whole  of  said  additional  sum  of  one  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars  to  be  raised  and  paid,  or  secured  to 
the  College  in  the  form  and  manner  aforesaid  on  or  be- 
fore January  1,  1906. 

280 


The  Next  Step 

"3.  H.  A.  Shanklin,  cashier  of  the  Toledo  Savings 
Bank,  and  W.  A.  Dexter,  cashier  of  the  First  National 
Bank,  of  Toledo,  Iowa,  or  their  successors  as  such  cash- 
iers, shall  be  a  committee  who  shall  carefully  examine  all 
the  funds  and  securities  offered  by  the  said  College  as 
going  to  make  up  said  additional  sum  of  one  hundred 
thousand  dollars,  for  the  purpose  of  determining  whether 
or  not  condition  number  two  above  has  been  fully  and 
fairly  complied  with.  Said  committee  may  demand  ab- 
stracts of  title  to  lands  offered  as  security,  and  any  other 
evidence  necessary  to  the  discharge  of  its  duties,  and  shall 
tabulate  all  funds,  notes,  and  securities  offered,  and  report 
the  same  with  its  findings  to  the  undersigned  not  later 
than  January  10,  1906;  and  as  soon  thereafter  as  the 
undersigned  is  satisfied  that  condition  number  two  has 
been  fully  and  fairly  complied  with,  he  shall  report  that 
fact  to  the  endowment  committee  appointed  by  the  Board 
of  Trustees.  But  should  the  undersigned  not  be  living 
to  receive  the  report  of  said  committee,  or  should  he  for 
any  reason  be  incapacitated  to  consider  the  same,  then 
said  committee  shall  make  its  report  in  like  time  and 
manner  to  the  judges  of  the  district  court  of  Tama 
County,  Iowa,  and  such  judges  shall  fully  consider  the 
same,  and  if  they  are  satisfied  that  condition  number  two 
has  been  fully  and  fairly  complied  with,  they  shall  report 
that  fact  to  the  endowment  committee  appointed  by  the 
Board  of  Trustees. 

"4.  Upon  such  report  being  made  to  the  endowment 
committee,  either  by  the  undersigned  or  by  said  judges,  a 
meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  shall  be  called  (if  not 
already  in  session)  as  soon  as  is  practicable,  and  said 
Board  shall  then,  by  proper  action  made  of  record,  fully 
accept  said  donation  of  $50,000,  with  all  the  terms  and 

281 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

conditions  on  which  it  is  offered  as  herein  expressed,  and 
solemnly  pledge  the  College  to  the  strictest  compliance 
with  such  conditions  forever,  and  thereupon  said  sum  of 
$50,000  shall  be  due  the  College  in  manner  and  form  as 
aforesaid,  and  the  same  shall  be  paid  to  the  College  by  the 
undersigned  or  his  legal  representatives.  And  at  the 
same  meeting  the  said  Board  of  Trustees  shall  make 
provision  for  the  change  of  the  name  of  the  College  to 
Leander  Clark  College,  and  shall  provide  for  such  change 
by  proper  amendment  of  its  articles  of  incorporation,  and 
forever  thereafter  the  College  shall  be  known  as  Leander 
Clark  College. 

"5.  The  whole  of  said  sum  of  $150,000  shall  constitute 
a  permanent  endowment  fund,  the  principal  of  which  shall 
be  protected  and  forever  held  sacred  as  such,  and  no  part 
of  it  shall  ever  on  any  pretense,  or  in  any  emergency,  be 
pledged  or  hypothecated  for  any  purpose,  or  be  diverted 
directly  or  indirectly  to  any  other  purpose,  or  temporarily 
or  permanently  loaned  to  any  other  fund  of  the  College, 
but  it  shall  be  kept  at  interest  at  the  best  rate  obtainable, 
and  secured  only  by  first  mortgages  on  clear  and  unin- 
cumbered farms  or  lands  worth  twice  the  amount  secured 
thereby,  and  the  Board  of  Trustees  shall  establish  and 
continue  in  perpetual  operation  the  proper  agency  for 
keeping  said  fund  fully  and  securely  loaned  as  herein 
contemplated. 

"6.  The  Board  of  Trustees  shall  by  proper  action 
provide  for  such  periodical  expert  examination  of  said 
fund — principal  and  interest — as  will  insure  its  proper 
investment,  its  businesslike  management,  and  a  proper 
accounting  by  those  having  it  in  charge. 

"7.  The  interest  arising  from  said  fund  of  $150,000 
shall  be  used  under  the  direction  of  said  Board  of  Trus- 

282 


The  Next  Step 

tees  as  a  faculty  fund  only — that  is,  for  the  payment  of 
president  and  teachers — and  no  part  of  it  shall  be  diverted 
to  any  other  use  or  purpose. 

"8.  If  by  any  mismanagement  or  misfortune  any  part 
of  the  principal  of  said  fund  should  be  lost,  then  the 
Board  of  Trustees  will  at  once  proceed  to  raise  other 
money  to  make  such  loss  good,  and  the  money  so  raised 
shall  be  forever  held  sacred  to  the  same  purpose  as  the 
original  fund. 

"9.  In  order  that  the  Trustees  may  never  lose  sight 
of  the  obligation  assumed  by  the  College  in  relation  to  the 
said  fund,  the  Board  shall  make  provision  for  the  reading 
of  the  permanent  conditions  hereof,  on  the  first  day  of 
each  regular  session  and  they  shall  be  so  read  accordingly. 

"10.  The  time  designated  above  for  the  raising  of  said 
$100,000  by  the  said  College  is  of  the  essence  of  this 
proposition,  and  if  said  sum  is  not  raised  by  January  1, 
1906,  as  contemplated  in  number  two  above,  then  this 
proposition  shall  be  absolutely  null  and  void  and  of  no 
effect. 

"11.  This  proposition  is  to  become  effective  and  bind- 
ing upon  the  undersigned  only  upon  its  acceptance  by  the 
Board  of  Trustees  of  said  College  at  its  regular  meeting 
in  June,  1903,  but  if  accepted  by  said  Board,  it  shall  be 
binding  not  only  upon  the  undersigned,  but  also  upon  his 
heirs  and  legal  representatives  for  the  time  and  upon  the 
terms  hereinbefore  named. 

"In  conclusion,  I  desire  to  state  that  my  purpose  in  mak- 
ing this  proposition  is  to  encourage  the  friends  of  the 
College  to  rally  to  its  support  and  to  aid  in  establishing  it 
upon  a  financial  foundation  that  shall  be  enduring.  It  is 
my  opinion  that  men  of  wealth  will  more  readily  contri- 
bute to  a  fund  which  is  so  safeguarded  as  to  be  a  means 

283 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

of  good  forever,  than  to  one  which  by  some  possibility 
may  be  lost  or  diverted  from  its  original  purpose.  With 
the  double  view,  therefore,  of  making  sure  that  my  own 
contribution  shall  forever  be  held  sacred  to  its  purpose, 
and  of  encouraging  others  to  join  with  me  in  raising  a 
fund  which  will  insure  the  College  not  only  a  temporary 
relief,  but  perpetual  prosperity  and  efficiency,  I  have 
deliberately  provided  that  the  whole  sum  of  $150,000 
contemplated  by  this  proposition  shall  be  in  funds  of 
certain  value,  and  that,  when  raised,  they  shall  be  invested 
and  managed  with  the  utmost  care  and  wisdom. 

"I  have  deemed  these  closing  remarks  expedient  for 
the  purpose  of  explaining  the  good  faith  of  this  proposi- 
tion to  such  as  may  not  have  considered  so  fully  as  I  have 
done,  the  necessity  of  guarding  against  the  diversion  of 
an  endowment  fund  to  other  uses,  and  thus  in  the  end 
defeating  the  object  of  the  donor. 

"Respectfully  submitted, 

"Leander  Clark." 

A  committee  to  which  the  matter  was  referred  made  the 
following  report,  which  report  was  unanimously  approved 
by  the  Board : 

"endowment  of  western  college. 

"Your  committee  to  which  was  referred  the  endow- 
ment proposition  of  the  Hon.  Leander  Clark  would  re- 
spectfully report,  as  follows : 

"Resolved,  1.  That  we  hereby  record  our  profound 
appreciation  of  the  generous  proposition  of  Mr.  Clark  to 
this  Board,  to  give  $50,000  for  the  endowment  of  West- 
ern College  on  the  condition  that  $100,000  additional  be 
secured  by  January  1,  1906,  thus  providing  for  a  perman- 
ent endowment  fund  of  $150,000. 

284 


The  Next  Step 

"2.  That  we  heartily  accept  Mr.  Clark's  offer  in  all 
its  specifications  and  provisions,  and  that  we  extend  to 
him  our  most  earnest  thanks  for  the  large  and  substantial 
gift  proposed,  evidencing  his  broad  public  spirit  and 
practical  Christian  philanthrophy,  and,  further,  that  we 
pledge  to  him  a  faithful  and  united  effort  to  meet  all  the 
conditions  named  by  him,  that  this  institution  may  be 
early  and  adequately  endowed,  and  that  our  good  faith  be 
shown  by  the  signing  of  this  proposition,  on  behalf  of 
this  Board,  by  the  president  pro  tern,  and  that  this  action 
be  duly  attested  by  the  secretary. 

"3.  That  we  regard  this  proposition  to  lay  a  founda- 
tion for  the  permanent  endowment  of  the  College  as  both 
opportune  and  providential,  and  worthy  the  consideration 
of  the  friends  of  higher  Christian  education,  and  we 
would  urgently  ask  them  to  give  this  forward  movement 
their  practical  encouragement. 

"4.  That,  in  order  to  the  full  realization  of  the  ends 
sought  in  this  important  undertaking,  President  Book- 
waiter  be  constituted  the  special  endowment  agent,  and 
that  he  give  his  time,  so  far  as  may  be  consistent  with 
his  other  duties,  to  the  work  of  soliciting  funds  on  this 
special  endowment  proposition,  and  that  he  be  given 
authority  to  employ  such  assistance  and  on  such  terms  as 
he  may  deem  necessary  and  wise. 

"L.   BOOKWALTER, 

"M.  R.  Drury, 

"D.   C.   OVERHOLSER, 

"Committee." 

The  Board  thus  committed  itself  anew  to  the  endow- 
ment effort,  though  a  few  still  felt  that  the  raising  of  the 
$100,000  required  to  meet  Major  Clark's  proposition  was 

285 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

an  almost  hopeless  undertaking.  However,  there  was 
now  a  substantial  start,  and  President  Bookwalter  pushed 
the  canvass  with  renewed  energy  and  courage.  As  the 
time  for  completing  the  endowment  was  now  definitely 
limited,  it  was  necessary  to  be  up  and  doing. 

The  first  step  was  the  securing  of  additions  to  the  tem- 
porary endowment  sufficient  to  provide  for  expenses  while 
the  endowment  campaign  should  be  carried  on.  Then 
President  Bookwalter  made  an  extended  trip  to  the  east 
in  an  effort  to  enlist  philanthropists  in  our  undertaking. 
Rev.  N.  F.  Hicks  was  again  employed  and  placed  in  the 
cooperating  territory.  Yet  at  the  end  of  the  school  year 
President  Bookwalter  was  compelled  to  report  no  ma- 
terial progress  on  the  endowment,  and  a  note  of  discour- 
agement crept  into  the  discussions  of  the  matter. 

The  note  of  discouragement  deepened  when  the  internal 
affairs  of  the  school  were  discussed  and  conditions 
brought  to  light.  It  was  found  that  the  funds  available 
for  the  payment  of  teachers  had  fallen  off  considerably 
and  that  larger  demands  were  now  made  upon  the  fund 
because  of  the  enlargement  of  the  teaching  force  made 
just  after  the  debt  campaign.  As  a  consequence  two 
teachers  resigned  and  much  discontent  was  discernible  in 
the  College  community.  To  add  to  the  discouragement, 
President  Bookwalter  was,  some  weeks  after  commence- 
ment, called  to  the  presidency  of  Otterbein  University, 
and,  although  he  continued  the  duties  of  his  office  until 
September,  no  successor  had  at  that  time  been  found. 
As  a  last  important  service  to  Western  College,  President 
Bookwalter  headed  a  committee,  composed  of  prominent 
citizens  of  Toledo,  to  Dubuque  to  call  on  Senator  Allison 
and  enlist  his  help  in  making  an  appeal  to  Andrew  Car- 
negie in  behalf  of  our  endowment  enterprise;   Bishop 

286 


The  Next  Step 

Kephart  added  the  weight  of  a  long  and  intimate  personal 
friendship  and  Senator  Allison  graciously  used  his  influ- 
ence to  open  the  way  whereby  the  magnificent  gift  was 
afterward  received  from  Mr.  Carnegie. 

On  the  day  of  President  Bookwalter's  resignation,  the 
Executive  Committee  issued  the  following  succinct  state- 
ment of  the  affairs  of  the  College  at  that  time: 

"To  the  Public  : 

"Inasmuch  as  rumors  have  been  afloat  for  some  days 
relating  to  the  administration,  condition,  and  immediate 
prospects  of  the  College,  we,  the  members  of  the  Execu- 
tive Committee,  deem  it  proper  to  publish  the  exact  facts 
for  the  information  of  all  concerned. 

"President  Bookwalter  has  only  this  day  been  elected 
to  the  presidency  of  Otterbein  University  in  Ohio.  He 
has  accepted  the  position,  and  has  tendered  his  resigna- 
tion as  president  of  Western  College,  to  take  effect  Sep- 
tember 1  next,  or  as  soon  as  his  successor  is  elected  and 
introduced  to  his  work.  His  resignation  has  been 
accepted,  and,  though  the  question  of  a  successor  has  been 
canvassed,  and  there  is  every  reason  to  hope  that  the  place 
will  soon  be  filled,  the  time  has  been  too  short  in  which  to 
consummate  a  matter  of  so  much  moment.  While  the 
Executive  Committee  has  the  power  to  fill  the  vacancy,  it 
is  probable  that  the  Board  of  Trustees  will  be  convened 
to  take  final  action,  as  well  as  to  transact  some  other  busi- 
ness needing  attention  at  this  juncture  in  the  affairs  of 
the  College.  Meanwhile,  President  Bookwalter  remains 
in  charge,  aided,  as  heretofore,  by  his  competent  and  effi- 
cient vice  president,  Professor  Ward,  and  everything  will 
proceed  as  if  no  change  were  impending. 

287 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

"Vacancies  in  the  faculty  have  been  filled  and  additions 
thereto  have  been  made,  as  follows:  Professor  Edward 
O.  Fiske,  of  Iowa  City,  has  been  chosen  to  be  Professor 
of  Mathematics,  and  also  principal  of  the  Academic  De- 
partment. Professor  W.  Leslie  Verry,  of  the  University 
of  Chicago,  has  been  elected  to  the  Chair  of  Greek  and 
Latin.  Mr.  Clarence  H.  Elliott,  an  alumnus  of  Western 
College,  has  been  chosen  as  special  instructor  in  Chem- 
istry and  assistant  in  the  College  of  Commerce. 

"Sketches  of  these  gentlemen  will  be  furnished  to  the 
press  along  with  the  announcement,  from  which  it  will  be 
seen  that  they  come  to  us  well  qualified  for  the  work 
which  they  severally  have  to  do.  A  full  and  competent 
faculty  will  be  on  hand  to  begin  the  work  of  the  ap- 
proaching College  year. 

"As  to  the  financial  condition  of  the  College  a  word 
should  be  said.  The  enormous  debt  which  rested  upon 
it  when  President  Bookwalter  came  to  its  head  has  mostly 
been  paid,  and  over  against  what  yet  remains  unpaid 
there  are  in  bank  notes  sufficient  assets  to  pay  the  last 
dollar  of  it,  and  these  are  sacredly  set  apart  for  that 
purpose. 

And  while  there  is  no  permanent  endowment  fund, 
obligations  to  the  extent  of  about  $6,000  have  been  se- 
cured and  placed  in  bank  to  aid  in  the  paying  of  teachers 
and  in  meeting  some  other  special  demands  pending  the 
raising  of  an  endowment  fund.  The  proceeds  from  these 
obligations  cannot  be  diverted  from  the  purpose  for  which 
they  were  taken. 

"President  Bookwalter  has  unbounded  faith  in  the 
possibility  of  securing  the  $100,000  necessary  to  meet  the 
conditions  attached  to  the  proposition  of  Hon.  Leander 
Clark  to  donate  $50,000  for  an  endowment  fund,  and  he 

288 


PROFESSOR  HENRY  W.  WARD 
Dean  cf  the  College  five  years  and  Memhei  of  the  Faculty  twenty  \  ears 


DR.  W.  O.  KROHN,   Ph.D.  PROFESSOR  E.  F.  BUCHNER.  Ph.D. 

Medical  Writer  and  Nerve  Specialist.        Professor  of  Psychology,  Johns   Hopkins 

University. 


JUDGE  U.  S.  GUYER 
Jurist  and  Political  Reformet. 


REV.  WILLIS  A.  WARREN 
Pastor  Congregational  Church,  Columbus, 
Ohio. 
A  Quartet  of  Western  Boys  Who  Have  Made  Good 


The  Next  Step 

has  a  very  well-defined  plan  for  securing  that  amount  in 
the  near  future. 

"As  to  the  resignation  of  President  Bookwalter,  we,  as 
members  of  the  Executive  Committee,  desire  to  say  that, 
while  we  join  in  the  universal  regret  which  his  retirement 
occasions,  we  fully  recognize  not  only  his  right,  but  his 
duty  to  himself,  his  family,  and  the  world  to  go  where  he 
deems  the  field  to  be  wider,  the  opportunities  greater,  and 
the  weight  of  care  less  burdensome.  His  ten  years' 
service  as  president  of  the  College  have  been  years  of 
self-sacrificing,  arduous  toil,  so  arduous  that  only  the  few 
who  have  been  nearest  to  him  can  realize  the  burdens  he 
has  borne  and  the  work  he  has  done.  But  he  has  success 
for  his  reward,  and  that  success  he  leaves  as  a  blessed 
heritage  to  the  College  in  the  form  of  a  debt  paid  and  a 
glorious  future  made  possible.  With  gratitude  for  his 
devotion,  and  admiration  for  his  success,  and  love  for  the 
man  whose  endowments  of  head  and  heart  have  made  his 
devotion  and  success  possible,  and  have  endeared  him  to 
us  all,  we  bid  him  God  speed  as  he  goes  forth  to  the  new 
field  to  which  he  has  been  called. 

"Dated  at  Toledo,  Iowa,  August  2,  1904. 

"E.  R.  Smith, 

"S.   R.  LlCHTENWALTER, 

"W.  F.  Johnston, 
"E.  C.  Ebersole, 
"S.  S.  Dobson, 
"Executive  Committee." 

When  the  date  for  the  opening  of  the  fall  term  was 
drawing  near  and  no  president  had  yet  been  secured,  the 
Executive  Committee  appointed  Vice  President  H.  W. 
Ward  as  dean  and  acting  president,  and  the  local  affairs 

289 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

of  the  College  went  on  smoothly,  students  and  teachers 
cooperating  in  a  fine  spirit  of  loyalty  to  the  College.  The 
outside  interests,  however,  were  at  a  temporary  standstill, 
as  there  was  no  financial  agent  at  the  time,  all  such  work 
having  been  left  to  the  president.  The  endowment  cam- 
paign necessarily  waited  until  a  president  should  be 
found. 

On  February  14,  1905,  the  Board  of  Trustees  met,  at 
call  of  the  Executive  Committee  "to  elect  a  College  presi- 
dent and  to  transact  such  other  business  as  may  be 
advisable."  At  this  meeting  Rev.  Cyrus  J.  Kephart, 
formerly  president  of  Avalon  College,  and  still  earlier 
president  of  Lebanon  Valley  College,  was  elected  presi- 
dent of  Western  College.  At  the  same  meeting  the 
Trustees  provided  a  handsome  budget  for  the  payment  of 
salaries. 

President  Kephart  entered  upon  his  administration 
duties  at  once  with  his  accustomed  energy  and  earnest- 
ness. Plans  were  at  once  set  on  foot  for  increasing  the 
attendance  of  students,  and  at  the  same  time  the  endow- 
ment canvass  was  renewed  with  vigor. 

The  second  great  encouragement  in  the  endowment 
canvass  came  in  the  form  of  the  following  letter  from 
Andrew  Carnegie,  sent  in  response  to  a  direct  appeal 
previously  made  by  the  Executive  Committee: 

"Andrew  Carnegie,  2  East  91st  Street. 

"New  York,  April  5th,  1905. 
"Dr.  C.  J.  Kephart,  President  of  Western  College, 
Toledo,  Iowd: 
"Dear  Sir  :    Mr.  Carnegie  has  read  over  the  papers  in 
regard  to  Western   College,   Toledo,   this  morning   and 
notes   that    a   local   benefactor   has   promised   you   fifty 

290 


The  Next  Step 

thousand  dollars  when  you  have  raised  one  hundred 
thousand  dollars  new  endowment.  Mr.  Carnegie  desires 
me  to  say  that  he  will  be  glad  to  give  fifty  thousand  dollars 
of  the  proposed  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  new  en- 
dowment when  the  other  fifty  thousand  dollars  has  been 
collected. 

"Respectfully  yours, 

"Jas.  Bertram,  P.  Secretary." 

The  letter  was  received  by  President  Kephart  on  April 
8,  1905,  and  sent  an  electric  thrill  through  the  whole 
College  community  as  the  rumor  of  its  contents  flew 
rapidly  from  lip  to  lip.  Now  at  last  all  united  in  firm 
faith  that  the  whole  endowment  could  be  reached,  that 
the  goal  of  so  much  striving  was  already  in  sight ;  natur- 
ally enthusiasm  ran  high.  The  student  body,  always 
quick  to  idealize  and  ready  to  look  upon  the  greatly  de- 
sired end  as  achieved  as  soon  as  earnestly  sought,  held  an 
impromptu  jollification  with  ringing  of  bells,  bonfires,  hila- 
rious parades,  and  shoutings  until  enthusiasm  expended 
itself  in  sheer  excess. 

All  this  helped  to  nerve  the  authorities  for  the  struggle 
yet  ahead  in  securing  the  remaining  $50,000.  Everyone 
felt  that  now  was  the  supreme  opportunity  for  the  Col- 
lege; the  chance  to  make  every  dollar  contributed  to  the 
cause  in  which  one  is  enlisted  bring  two  other  dollars  to 
that  cause  does  not  come  often  in  a  lifetime.  Accord- 
ingly the  campaign  was  waged  on  a  much  larger  scale 
and  at  a  much  higher  tension.  The  Executive  Committee 
engaged  Rev.  R.  E.  Graves  to  enter  the  active  canvass  in 
the  field  in  connection  with  President  Kephart. 

In  harmony  with  the  new  hopes  and  dawning  possibili- 
ties for  the  school,  it  was  planned  to  introduce  an  innova- 

291 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

tion  upon  former  practices  at  Western  and  hold  formal 
inaugural  ceremonies  for  President  Kephart  in  connection 
with  the  coming  commencement  season.  Since  such  a 
ceremony  is  unusual  in  the  history  of  the  College,  and 
was  on  this  occasion  of  extraordinary  interest  in  itself,  it 
will  be  well  to  insert  here  the  account  as  published  in  the 
Toledo  Chronicle,  June  15,  1905: 

"A  half  hour  or  more  before  time  for  the  inauguration 
exercises  the  big  United  Brethren  Church  auditorium 
and  adjoining  rooms  were  crowded  to  overflowing,  and 
when  the  procession  arrived  at  the  church  and  occupied 
seats  reserved  for  them,  standing  room  was  at  a  premium. 

"W.  A.  Dexter,  chairman  of  the  Inaugural  Committee, 
presided  and  announced  the  program.  The  exercises 
began  with  a  selection  from  the  Toledo  Orchestra,  com- 
posed of  P.  L.  Swearimgen,  cornet ;  C.  E.  Berry,  clarinet ; 
R.  E.  Mead,  flute;  Dr.  St.  Clair,  slide  trombone;  Misses 
Zae  Cannon  and  Zoe  Norton,  violins ;  Miss  Helen  Gra- 
ham, piano. 

"Rev.  Filson,  of  the  Tama  Presbyterian  Church,  offered 
the  invocation. 

"  'Lift  Up  Your  Heads,  O  Ye  Gates,'  was  given  by  the 
Conservatory  Chorus  of  fifty  voices  with  Miss  Marie 
Bookwalter  leading  and  Prof.  J.  K.  Weaver  at  the  organ. 
It  was  simply  grand  as  was  also  the  Hallelujah  Chorus 
given  by  them  at  the  close. 

Chairman  Dexter  read  letters  of  greeting  from  Doctor 
Bookwalter,  Westerville,  Ohio;  Bishop  E.  B.  Kephart, 
Annville,  Pa. ;  Bishop  Mills,  Annville,  Pa. ;  Bishop  Wm. 
M.  Bell,  Dayton,  Ohio;  W.  R.  Funk,  of  the  United 
Brethren  Publishing  House,  Dayton,  Ohio ;  George  E. 
MacLean,  State  University  of  Iowa;  President  William 
F.  King,  Cornell  College ;  Dan  F.  Bradley,  Iowa  College ; 

292 


The  Next  Step 

Isaac  Loos,  State  University ;  Governor  A.  B.  Cummins ; 
Senator  Allison;  Senator  Dolliver;  Ex-President  A.  M. 
Beal,  Moline,  Illinois;  Secretary  of  Agriculture  James 
Wilson,  and  possibly  others,  all  containing  kind  words  and 
best  wishes  for  the  future  of  Western  College. 

"Judge  G.  W.  Burnham,  of  Vinton,  spoke  for  the  State 
of  Iowa.  He  showed  to  Toledo  that  he  was  an  orator  as 
well  as  an  able  jurist.  We  doubt  whether  we  ever  heard 
a  public  speaker  crowd  so  much  into  a  five-minute  ad- 
dress.    It  was  a  gem  from  start  to  finish. 

"Prof.  Richard  C.  Barrett,  of  the  State  Agricultural 
School,  brought  the  greetings  from  Iowa  colleges.  He 
showed  that  he  was  at  home  as  a  public  speaker,  and 
pleased  and  entertained  as  he  extended  the  glad  hand  of 
sister  colleges  to  the  new  era  just  dawning  for  Western. 

"Rev.  W.  I.  Beatty,  for  the  alumni,  always  witty  and 
pleasing,  was  at  his  best  and  most  fittingly  did  he  pledge 
the  alma  mater  that  her  children  would  see  her  through 
to  the  end. 

"Major  Clark,  on  account  of  ill  health,  just  recovering 
from  whooping  cough,  was  well  represented  by  Doctor 
Drury. 

"Editor  C.  J.  Wonsor  bore  the  greetings  from  sister 
Tama.  He  told  how  Toledo  and  Tama  have  become 
cemented  largely  through  the  College  influences  and 
humorously  referred  to  College  athletics  and  other  rela- 
tions of  the  two  towns.  His  remarks  were  well  received 
and  he  closed  amidst  a  burst  of  applause. 

"Hon  H.  J.  Stiger  was  announced  as  substitute  for 
Judge  Caldwell,  who  was  unexpectedly  called  from  town. 
Mr.  Stiger  fittingly  referred  to  President  Beardshear  and 
others  who  have  been  his  successors  at  Western;  also 
how  Toledo  people  had  stood  nobly  by  them  in  every 

293 


Western — Leander-Clctrk  College 

time  of  adversity  and  assured  the  new  president  that  they 
could  be  depended  upon  in  the  future  as  in  the  past.  His 
remarks  were  timely  and  well  received  and  left  no  ques- 
tion in  the  minds  of  the  people  as  to  where  Toledo's  loyal 
people  stood  in  time  of  need. 

"Rev.  W.  A.  Briggs,  of  the  Congregational  Church, 
representing  the  city  churches,  showed  how  the  Christian 
church  was  an  aid  to  the  moral  tone  of  a  town,  how  it 
aided  the  cause  of  religion,  and  how  its  influence  was  not 
alone  confined  to  the  town  in  which  it  was  located.  He 
pledged  the  good  will  of  all  Toledo  churches  to  Western 
College  and  extended  to  the  new  president  the  best  wishes 
of  Christian  people. 

"When  President  Cyrus  J.  Kephart  was  introduced  the 
great  audience  greeted  him  with  prolonged  cheers  and 
the  waving  of  hundreds  of  flags.  It  was  such  a  greeting 
as  but  few  men  receive  in  a  lifetime,  and,  together  with 
the  greetings  of  those  preceding  him,  it  was  no  wonder 
that  he  was  almost  overcome  with  emotions  of  joy  at  the 
loyalty  and  good  fellowship  extended  to  Western  College 
through  him  as  its  chief  executive.  When  quiet  was 
resumed  and  thanks  had  been  expressed  he  entered  upon 
a  scholarly  address  on  the  subject,  'The  Purpose  of  Cul- 
ture.' Seldom  has  a  Toledo  audience  listened  to  so  ably 
written  an  address,  and  its  delivery  was  above  criticism. 
He  showed  that  man  reached  his  greatest  height  through 
culture  and  that  the  colleges  of  the  land  were  the  means 
to  the  end.      The  benediction  was  given  by  the  president. 

"Thus  closed,  perhaps,  the  most  eventful  commence- 
ment Western  ever  had,  although  there  have  been  many 
eventful  ones.  This,  we  say,  surpasses  others  in  that  it 
means  that  Western  is  on  the  verge  of  a  future  that 
carries  with   it  the  perpetuity  of  the  institution.      The 

294 


The  Next  Step 

necessaries  for  this  future  existence  are  being  secured, 
and  it  means  advanced  ground  along  all  lines.  Long  life 
to  Western  and  her  most  worthy  constituency !" 

The  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  in  June,  1905, 
was  more  largely  attended  than  usual,  especially  by  mem- 
bers from  a  distance,  and  more  enthusiasm  was  mani- 
fested and  a  deeper  interest  taken  than  had  been  evident 
for  many  years.  All  seemed  imbued  with  the  one  idea 
of  securing  the  balance  of  the  $50,000  needed  to  meet 
the  like  amounts  offered  by  Mr.  Clark  and  Mr.  Carnegie. 
A  number  of  the  liberal  donors  to  the  endowment  fund 
were  present  and  were  enthusiastic  in  their  belief  that 
the  balance  could  and  would  be  secured.  Several  of 
these  donors  pledged  themselves  to  canvass  among  their 
friends  and  try  to  secure  gifts  from  them.  Rev.  R.  E. 
Graves  was  elected  field  secretary,  and  President  Kephart 
was  relieved  from  class  work  and  left  free  to  devote  his 
whole  energies  to  the  canvass. 

But  six  months  now  remained  before  the  time  limit  set 
by  Mr.  Clark  would  expire,  and  more  than  $30,000  had 
yet  to  be  secured.  There  was  need  of  a  whirlwind  cam- 
paign, and  that  was  the  kind  set  in  motion.  Now  was 
repeated,  only  with  more  eagerness,  the  campaign  of  four 
years  previous,  with  President  Kephart  and  Field  Secre- 
tary Graves  in  the  forefront  of  every  battle.  Daniel 
Mclntyre,  of  Gladbrook,  Iowa,  contributed  $10,000,  and 
another  long  leap  was  taken  toward  the  top  of  the  hill. 
Others  made  large  donations,  and  a  multitude  of  small 
ones  swelled  the  whole  amount.  Toledo  again  called  a 
mass  meeting,  volunteered  to  raise  $10,000,  appointed 
Hon.  C.  E.  Walters,  W.  C.  Smith,  D.  W.  Turbett,  J.  J. 
McMahon,  W.  A.  Dexter,  D.  Camery,  and  C.  W.  Ennis 

295 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

a  soliciting  committee  and  raised  more  than  the  amount 
assumed.  As  the  conditions  of  Mr.  Clark's  proposition 
required  that  the  full  $100,000  should  be  in  the  hands  of 
the  College  on  January  1,  in  cash  or  first  mortgages  on 
real  estate,  it  was  necessary  to  close  the  canvass  in  time 
to  allow  all  collections  to  be  made ;  accordingly,  November 
30,  was  fixed  as  the  day  for  winding  up  the  campaign. 

And  Thursday,  November  30,  Thanksgiving  Day,  1905, 
will  always  be  a  red-letter  day  in  the  calendar  of  Western 
College.  President  Kephart  and  Field  Secretary  Graves 
having  done  their  uttermost  in  the  field  returned  home  to 
report.  Bishop  Weekley  came  from  Des  Moines  to  lend 
the  inspiration  of  his  presence  and  counsel.  John  Sham- 
baugh,  Adam  Shambaugh,  W.  H.  Trussell,  and  C.  Os- 
mundson,  all  trustees  from  a  distance,  were  on  hand  to 
see  that  the  undertaking  should  not  fail.  All  these,  to- 
gether with  the  Executive  Committee,  soliciting  agents, 
College  faculty,  and  interested  friends  met  in  the  Business 
Men's  Club  Rooms,  Toledo,  to  hear  reports  and  learn 
what  must  yet  be  done.  It  was  ascertained  that  several 
thousand  dollars  must  be  raised  before  midnight  or  the 
whole  endowment  scheme  would  fail.  Anxiety  naturally 
became  intense.  Secretary  Graves  kept  the  long  distance 
wires  warm  communicating  with  friends  in  the  field  who 
had  agreed  to  give  pledges  at  the  last  in  case  their  pledges 
should  become  necessary.  Several  visiting  trustees  pre- 
sented pledges  they  had  been  authorized  to  offer  in  case 
of  emergency.  The  citizens'  committee  pushed  its  can- 
vass in  Toledo  on  into  the  night,  securing  considerably 
more  than  was  asked  of  them.  As  the  hours  of  the  night 
deepened  the  amount  rose  almost  to  the  required  mark 
and  then  seemed  unable  to  go  any  higher.  Finally,  about 
eleven  o'clock,  Hon.   E.   C.  Ebersole,  who  had  been  in 

296 


The  Next  Step 

touch  with  friends  in  the  East,  reported  that  he  had  re- 
ceived a  sufficient  sum  to  make  up  the  deficit  in  the 
endowment  fund,  then  approximately  $3,500 — later  when 
collections  fell  short  at  the  last  he  turned  in  $1,500 
received  from  the  same  source  and  making  up  the  $5,000 
donated  by  the  Keister  brothers.  This  announcement, 
assuring  the  endowment  by  a  safe  margin,  was  received 
with  a  burst  of  applause,  and  the  long  emotional  strain 
suddenly  relaxed.  Strong  men  wept  and  others  cried 
"Thank  God."  President  Kephart  broke  spontaneously 
into  a  fervent  prayer  of  thankfulness  to  God  for  giving 
this  great  victory  to  crown  the  long  struggle. 

Such  good  news  could  not  long  be  confined  to  one  small 
room,  but  spread  abroad.  Soon  the  College  bell  was  peal- 
ing out  the  glad  announcement  on  the  frosty  night  air  in 
the  cheeriest  tones  that  ever  came  from  its  melodious 
throat.  Then,  as  was  inevitable  where  enthusiastic  stu- 
dents were  concerned,  another  rejoicing  procession 
paraded  through  the  streets  and  sang  out  their  joy;  if 
the  truth  must  be  told,  some  of  the  boys  in  the  procession 
had  reached  two  score  and  ten  or  more. 

The  next  month  witnessed  a  record  breaker  in  the  way 
of  speedy  collections  on  so  large  a  scale,  due  largely  to 
the  previous  preparation  for  just  such  quick  responses. 
The  list  of  donors  contained  several  hundred  names  scat- 
tered over  a  wide  territory,  and  yet  before  January  1  the 
whole  $50,000  was  on  deposit  in  the  Toledo  banks  and 
Mr.  Carnegie's  $50,000  was  guaranteed. 

The  closing  chapel  exercises  of  the  fall  term,  December 
18,  were  in  a  quiet  way  an  occasion  to  remember. 

It  was  the  last  chapel  service  that  would  ever  be  held 
under  the  old  name,  now  grown  to  be  almost  an  object  of 

297 


Western — Lcandcr-Clark  College 

veneration  in  itself.  This  was  planned  as  a  farewell  to 
the  old  name,  and  naturally  the  spirit  of  the  occasion  was 
mellowed  by  a  touch  of  sadness,  though  exuberant  youth 
can  not  long  look  regretfully  backward  when  there  is  a 
glorious  promise  just  ahead.  The  College  band  made  its 
initial  public  appearance  and  aided  in  the  enthusiasm  of 
the  occasion.  The  different  classes  came  out  in  their 
class  colors  and  indulged  in  songs  and  yells.  The  serious 
part  of  the  program  consisted  of  addresses  by  representa- 
tives of  the  four  College  classes,  the  Academy,  the  Busi- 
ness College,  and  the  Faculty. 

The  legal  steps  to  be  taken  in  making  the  change  of 
name  required  a  longer  time  than  was  anticipated,  and  so 
it  was  not  until  January  23,  1906,  that  the  Board  met  to 
complete  the  transaction. 

At  that  meeting  Leander  Clark,  after  stating  that  he 
was  fully  satisfied  that  the  one  hundred  thousand  dollars 
contemplated  in  his  proposition  had  been  raised  in  strict 
accordance  with  the  terms  of  his  proposal,  placed  in  the 
hands  of  the  secretary  of  the  Board  his  note  for  fifty 
thousand  dollars,  due  in  ten  days,  and  payable  in  cash 
or  new  notes  secured  by  mortgages  on  real  estate  of  not 
less  than  double  the  value  of  the  notes. 

Dr.  M.  R.  Drury  then  offered  the  following  resolutions, 
which  were  unanimously  adopted : 

"Resolved,  1.  That  we  hereby  record  our  profound 
appreciation  of  the  generous  gift  of  Mr.  Clark  of  $50,000 
to  complete  the  $150,000  endowment. 

"2.  That  we  hereby  accept  Mr.  Clark's  donation  with 
all  the  terms  and  conditions  on  which  it  was  offered,  and 
solemnly  pledge  the  College  to  the  strictest  compliance 
with  such  conditions  forever ;  and  that  we  extend  to  him 
our  earnest  thanks  for  the  large  and  substantial  gift." 

298 


The  Next  Step 

All  the  conferences  cooperating  with  Western  College, 
namely,  Des  Moines,  Northern  Illinois,  Wisconsin,  Min- 
nesota, and  Iowa,  had  already  each  and  all,  by  vote  duly 
taken  at  their  several  annual  sessions,  approved  the  prop- 
osition to  so  amend  article  one  of  the  Articles  of  Incor- 
poration to  change  the  corporate  name  of  the  College  to 
"Leander  Clark  College,"  with  provision,  however,  that 
such  amendment  shall  take  effect  only  upon  its  adoption 
by  the  Board  of  Trustees,  after  the  Hon.  Leander  Clark 
shall  have  actually  made  to  the  College  a  donation  of 
$50,000  in  accordance  with  his  proposition  made  to  and 
adopted  by  the  said  Board  at  its  meeting  in  June,  1903. 

As  the  Board  was  the  only  legal  body  belonging  to  the 
College  that  had  not  yet  taken  formal  action  in  the  matter, 
it  remained  only  for  a  favorable  vote  of  the  Board  to  com- 
plete the  change  of  name.  Such  a  vote  was  taken  by  a 
call  of  yeas  and  nays  on  a  formal  motion  including  pre- 
amble and  resolution  offered  by  W.  C.  Smith  and  sec- 
onded by  F.  E.  Brooke.  The  vote,  unanimously  for  the 
motion,  was  completed  at  exactly  2 :  45  p.m.,  January  23, 
1906;  then  the  president  of  the  Board  declared  the  cor- 
porate name  of  the  College  changed  from  "Western 
College"  to  "Leander  Clark  College."'  Thus  the  name 
Western  passed  into  the  realm  of  fading,  but  cherished 
memories. 

On  the  evening  of  January  23,  faculty,  students,  and 
citizens  joined  in  a  jubilee  to  celebrate  in  a  formal  way 
the  consummation  of  the  endowment  movement,  and 
especially  to  inaugurate  the  new  order  of  things  under 
the  new  name.  The  jubilee  was  held  in  the  United 
Brethren  Church,  which  had  been  profusely  decorated 
with  new  Leander  Clark  pennants;  a  large  portrait  of 
Major  Clark  held  the  place  of  honor  over  the  rostrum, 

299 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

supported  by  a  gorgeous  banner  with  "Leander  Clark 
College"  worked  in  large  gold  letters  across  it.  Songs 
and  yells  in  which  the  name  of  Leander  Clark  constantly 
recurred  kept  the  walls  of  the  building  echoing  at  every 
opportunity.  Speeches  of  congratulation  and  felicitation 
were  made  by  representatives  of  the  organizations  and 
interests  most  deeply  concerned.  Thus  another  eventful 
day  in  the  life  of  the  College  passed  into  history. 

HON.  LEANDER  CLARK. 

As  Major  Clark's  splendid  gift  of  $50,000  inaugurated 
a  new  era  for  the  College  that  now  bears  his  name,  and 
entitled  him  to  be  honored  and  loved  as  the  second 
founder  and  chief  benefactor  of  the  College,  readers  of 
this  history  will  be  delighted  to  learn  something  of  his 
personal  history. 

Leander  Clark  was  born  at  Wakeman,  Huron  County, 
Ohio,  July  17,  1823.  His  boyhood  days  were  spent  on 
the  farm  with  his  parents.  The  training  for  a  busy  and 
successful  life  was  begun  in  the  public  schools  and  later 
supplemented  by  a  period  of  study  at  the  Academy  of 
Oberlin  College.  In  1849,  with  a  party,  he  started  across 
the  plains  and  arrived  at  Sacramento  after  a  journey  of 
seven  months.  In  1852  he  returned  to  the  States  by 
way  of  the  Isthmus  of  Panama  and  came  to  Tama  County, 
Iowa,  where  he  has  since  resided. 

Mr.  Clark  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  1855,  and 
Judge  of  Tama  County  in  1857,  which  office  he  held  for 
four  years.  In  1861  he  was  sent  to  represent  Tama 
County  in  the  General  Assembly.  When  the  call  for 
volunteers  came,  he  resigned  and  enlisted  as  a  private  in 
the  24th  Iowa  Infantry.  He  was  elected  captain  of 
Company  E.      In  October,  1862,  the  regiment  went  into 

300 


The  Next  Step 

the  field  and  Captain  Clark  accompanied  it  for  nearly 
three  years,  participating  in  almost  all  engagements.  In 
September,  1864,  he  was  promoted,  and  as  major  contin- 
ued with  his  regiment  until  January,  1865,  when  he  was 
made  lieutenant  colonel.  At  the  battle  of  Champion 
Hill,  Mississippi,  he  was  wounded  in  the  face  by  a  small 
ball.  He  also  received  a  slight  wound  at  the  battle  of 
Winchester,  Virginia.  In  August,  1865,  at  the  close  of 
the  war  he  was  mustered  out  with  his  regiment.  Major 
Clark  bears  the  reputation  of  a  brave  soldier  and  officer. 

On  his  return  to  civil  life  he  served  another  term  in  the 
legislature,  and  in  1866  was  appointed  Indian  Agent  for 
the  Sac  and  Fox  Indians.  The  remainder  of  his  life  has 
been  devoted  to  the  quiet  prosecution  of  his  business 
interests  and  the  peaceful  enjoyment  of  his  home  life, 
broken  into  years  ago  by  the  deepest  domestic  sorrow  in 
the  loss  of  his  wife. 

Major  Clark's  wealth  is  the  result  of  intelligently 
directed  industry  aided  by  modest  tastes  and  by  the  nat- 
ural growth  of  a  new  and  rapidly  developing  community. 
Coming  to  Iowa  in  the  early  days  when  land  was  cheap, 
he  slowly  but  surely  built  up  a  fortune  by  taking  advan- 
tage of  the  natural  increase  in  values,  gradually  extending 
his  holdings  until  they  comprised  large  sections  of  Iowa, 
the  Dakotas,  and  Missouri.  Later  entering  the  banking 
business,  he  was  for  years  the  president  of  the  Toledo 
Savings  Bank,  and  has  been  intimately  connected  with  the 
commercial  growth  of  this  section  of  the  country.  He 
is  an  excellent  example  of  the  stalwart  and  sterling  type 
of  citizen  to  whose  skill  and  industry  the  present  develop- 
ment of  the  western  country  is  due. 

Until  his  last  illness,   in  his  eighty-eighth  year,  Mr. 
Gark  retained  personal  direction  of  his  business  affairs, 

301 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

and  took  a  lively  interest  in  the  students  of  the  College, 
especially  in  their  athletic  doings  and  intercollegiate 
debates.  He  always  received  the  warmest  welcome  and 
the  seat  of  honor  whenever  he  visited  the  College  or 
attended  its  functions.  Ripe  in  years  and  full  of  honors, 
he  passed  peacefully  away  on  December  22,  1910. 

The  first  business  of  the  corporation  under  its  new 
name  was  the  investing  of  the  endowment  fund.  As  a 
preliminary  step  to  this  end,  Hon.  E.  C.  Ebersole,  known 
and  esteemed  through  a  long  life  for  his  absolute  integrity 
of  character,  sound  business  methods,  and  intimate  knowl- 
edge of  law  and  legal  forms,  was  elected  financial  secre- 
tary with  the  endowment  fund  as  his  chief  care.  An 
Investment  Committee,  consisting  of  Dr.  E.  R.  Smith, 
S.  R.  Lichtenwalter,  and  W.  F.  Johnston,  was  elected  and 
charged  with  the  duty  of  passing  final  judgment  on  all 
loans.  In  an  incredibly  short  time  all  of  the  endowment 
fund  was  placed  on  real  estate  loans  secured  by  mortgages 
as  provided  in  Major  Clark's  original  proposition. 

After  a  year  or  two  Mr.  Ebersole,  finding  the  details 
of  College  finances  too  laborious  for  him,  laid  down  all 
such  duties,  except  those  relating  to  the  endowment; 
these  he  retained  under  the  title  of  Endowment  Secretary, 
until  March,  1910,  at  which  time  he  was  succeeded  by 
Hon.  H.  J.  Stiger. 

The  year  1906  gained  a  double  distinction  in  the  annals 
of  the  College  by  witnessing  the  ceremonies  connected 
with  the  change  of  name  and  also  those  celebrating  the 
semi-centennial  of  the  founding  of  the  College.  The 
conjunction  of  two  such  important  events  naturally 
wrought  interest  to  a  very  high  pitch.  Preparations  had 
long  been  under  way  for  holding,  in  connection  with 
commencement  week,  1906,  the  Semi-Centennial  Celebra- 

302 


The  Next  Step 

tion  and  Home  Coming  of  Old  Students,  and  now  a  deeper 
interest  on  that  occasion  was  aroused  by  the  glorious 
ending  of  the  endowment  campaign.  Special  programs 
were  arranged,  class  and  society  reunions  were  planned, 
and  attractive  advertising  did  the  rest. 

Centennial  Week  brought  the  largest  gathering  of  old 
students  and  friends  of  the  College  that  Toledo  has  ever 
seen.  They  came  overflowing  with  the  spirit  of  good 
fellowship  and  tingling  with  the  sensation  of  youth 
almost  returned.  Such  a  jolly  crew  of  good  comrades, 
pathetically  intent  on  escaping  for  a  space  from  life's 
exacting  demands  and  cares  into  the  freedom  and  unham- 
pered joys  of  youth,  can  not  be  found  except  at  college 
anniversaries. 

One  of  the  most  touching,  though  informal,  programs 
of  the  week  was  the  dedicatory  and  memorial  service 
held  in  the  College  chapel  Wednesday  afternoon.  Por- 
traits of  all  the  presidents  of  the  College,  except  the  first 
and  the  last,  had  been  procured,  together  with  the  por- 
traits of  Leander  Clark  and  Rev.  M.  S.  Drury,  and  these 
had  been  arranged  appropriately  around  the  walls  of  the 
College  chapel.  The  special  purpose  of  this  hour  was 
the  dedication  of  these  pictures  and  the  holding  of 
memorial  service  in  remembrance  of  the  presidents  who 
had  passed  away.  A  gentle  tenderness  and  reverence  per- 
vaded this  part  of  the  exercises,  deepened  by  the  fact  that 
former  President  E.  B.  Kephart,  brother  of  President 
C.  J.  Kephart,  had  died  but  very  recently,  and  President 
Beardshear  and  M.  S.  Drury  not  very  long  before.  Rela- 
tives of  these  were  present,  some  of  them  taking  part  in 
the  ceremonies.  Earnest  memorial  addresses  were  given 
by  former  associates  and  close  friends  of  the  dead. 

303 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

Another  purpose  of  the  program  was  the  dedication  of 
a  marble  memorial  tablet,  inscribed  "Erected  to  the  Mem- 
ory of  Jennie  Mclntyre  Fletcher  in  Grateful  Recognition 
of  the  Donation  of  Ten  Thousand  Dollars  by  Her  Par- 
ents, Daniel  and  Jane  Mclntyre,  Toward  the  Endowment 
of  the  Chair  of  English  in  this  Institution,  1905,"  and  a 
bronze  shield,  inscribed — "In  Grateful  Recognition  of 
Donations : 

by  by 

Leander  Clark  Andrew  Carnegie 

of  $50,000  to  the  of  $50,000  to  the 

Endowment  Fund  Endowment  Fund 

1906.  1906. 

and  of  Donations  by  Solomon  Lichten waiter  and  W.  F. 
Johnston  of  $8,000  each  to  the  Maintenance  and  Endow- 
ment Fund,  1881-1906." 

Also  the  formal  naming  of  the  "Jennie  Mclntyre  Chair 
of  English"  in  consideration  of  the  gift  of  $10,000  by  her 
parents,  and  of  the  "Shambaugh  Chair  of  Chemistry  and 
Biology"  in  consideration  of  donations  by  Adam  Sham- 
baugh and  John  Shambaugh  aggregating  $19,000. 

Another  impressive  exercise  was  in  connection  with  the 
regular  commencement  program  Thursday  morning.  The 
unusual  interest  of  the  week  had  packed  the  church  to  its 
capacity.  The  speaker  of  the  day,  Rev.  J.  Percival 
Hugget,  had  by  some  happy  instinct  chosen  as  his  theme, 
"The  Epic  of  the  Prairie,"  a  most  appropriate  subject 
for  the  anniversary  of  a  College  that  was  itself  a  child 
of  the  prairie. 

At  the  close  of  the  usual  commencement  program  the 
roll  of  all  the  old  graduates  of  Western  College  was 
called  in  order  that  they  might  come  forward  and  receive 

m 


The  Next  Step 

the  official  certificate  that  gave  them  full  membership  in 
the  new  family  of  Leander  Clark.      The  roll  began  with 
the  oldest  class,  1864,  responded  to  by  W.  T.  Jackson; 
then  1865,  responded  to  by  J.  A.  Shuey.      As  these  two, 
their  heads  already  silvered  over  and  their  faces  bearing 
the  unmistakable  stamp  of  upright  character  and  worthy 
achievement,   walked   forward  with   earnest  dignity   and 
took  their  places  before  the  altar,  a  breathless  hush  settled 
down  over  the  audience.      As  the  roll  proceeded,  answered 
sometimes  by  silence,  more  often  by  twos  and   threes, 
and  then  by  fours  and  fives,  and  finally  by  eight,  the  line 
at  the  altar  grew  until  it  extended  across  the  church — 
from  gray  hairs  and  ripened  years  to  chestnut  locks  and 
ruddy  cheeks,  a  line  of  sixty-seven,  representing  forty- 
two  classes,  bound  together  by  the  closest  ties  of  spiritual 
friendship.     As  the  roll-call  ceased  and  the  line  was  full 
the  audience,  unable  longer  to  endure  the  emotional  strain 
in  silence,  burst  into  applause  and  the  line  at  the  altar 
instinctively  clasped  hands  and  began  to  sing  the  touching 
strains  of  "Auld  Lang  Syne."      Then  the  speaker  of  the 
day,  trembling  with  emotion,  rose  to  beg  the  privilege  of 
paying  a   personal   tribute   of   devoted   friendship  to  an 
alumnus  of  Western  who  did  not  answer  to  his  name  to- 
day because  he  had  just  answered  the  eternal   roll-call, 
Mr.  J.  A.  Runkle  of  the  class  of  '87.     The  occasion  was 
one  not  likely  to  be  forgotten  by  any  who  took  part  in  it. 
The  distinctly  anniversary  exercises  reached  a  fitting 
climax  in  the  Semi-Centennial  program  Thursday  after- 
noon.    A  grand  procession,  under  the  leadership  of  Gen- 
eral W.  L.  Davis  as  marshal,  formed  in  front  of  the  Con- 
servatory of  Music  in  the  following  order:  Toledo  Con- 
cert   Band,    Board    of   Trustees,    Executive    Committee, 
speakers  of  the  day,  faculty  of  the  College,  City  Pastors 

305 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

of  Toledo  and  Tama,  Mayors  and  City  Councils  of  Toledo 
and  Tama,  City  School  Boards  of  Toledo  and  Tama,  Pub- 
lic School  teachers  of  Toledo  and  Tama,  College  Alumni, 
Conservatory  Alumni,  Graduates  of  Adjunct  Depart- 
ments, College  students,  past  and  present,  Indian  Train- 
ing School  Band,  and  Indian  Training  School.  The  line 
of  march  was  to  the  courthouse  square  and  then  back 
through  Main  Street  to  the  United  Brethren  Church. 

The  program  at  the  church  consisted  of  music  by  the 
bands,  the  song  "America"  by  the  audience,  prayer  by 
Bishop  W.  M.  Weekley,  greetings  from  Hon.  W.  B. 
Allison,  Hon.  James  Wilson,  and  others,  followed  by 
addresses.  Professor  I.  A.  Loos,  of  the  State  University 
of  Iowa,  spoke  of  "The  Educational  Pioneer,"  and  in  his 
address  referred  with  strong  emotion  to  his  former  asso- 
ciation with  the  faculty  of  Western  College ;  Hon.  A.  R. 
Burkdol,  77,  spoke  feelingly  and  most  impressively  of 
"Student  Days  at  Western";  Rev.  I.  L.  Kephart,  D.D., 
of  Dayton,  Ohio,  a  former  member  of  the  faculty  at  old 
Western,  related  "Some  Faculty  Experiences"  in  his 
happiest  vein;  U.  S.  Guyer,  '94,  of  Kansas  City,  discussed 
in  a  most  able  manner  "The  Lawyer  and  His  Alma 
Mater."  The  formal  address  of  the  afternoon  was  by 
Rev.  F.  E.  Bruner,  A.M.,  of  Chicago,  on  the  "Evolution 
of  the  Pioneer."  Pushetonequa,  Chief  of  the  Musquakie 
Indians,  occupied  a  seat  on  the  platform  in  all  his  official 
regalia.  He  was  introduced  and  made  a  brief  speech 
through  his  interpreter. 

So  closed  another  red-letter  day  in  the  history  of  the 
College. 

For  the  two  years  covered  by  the  endowment  canvass 
and  those  immediately  following,  the  student  life  of  the 
College  reflected  in  a  measure  the  great  events  through 

306 


The  Next  Step 

which  the  College  was  passing.  In  two  lines  of  student 
activity  there  was  rather  a  pronounced  drift  at  this  time, 
namely,  athletics  and  public  speaking.  The  movement  in 
athletics  was  but  part  of  a  State-wide  movement  to  bring 
college  athletics  under  the  immediate  control  of  the  per- 
manent officers  of  the  colleges  instead  of  leaving  the 
matter  wholly  to  the  management  of  constantly  changing 
student  bodies.  To  this  end  a  conference  of  Iowa  col- 
leges was  organized,  composed  of  representatives  elected 
by  the  different  college  faculties  from  their  number;  the 
conference  determined  uniform  rules  for  eligibility  and 
other  matters  pertaining  to  intercollegiate  contests.  Lean- 
der  Clark  joined  the  conference  and  adopted  a  local  plan 
whereby  athletics  were  managed  jointly  by  representatives 
elected  by  the  faculty,  the  students,  and  the  alumni.  The 
plan  worked  much  benefit,  especially  to  the  tone  of 
athletics. 

As  an  encouragement  to  better  training  for  public 
speaking  the  authorities  of  the  College  provided  classes  in 
Elocution  and  in  Oratory  and  Debate  open  to  all  College 
students  without  extra  tuition.  They  also  offered  prizes 
for  winners  in  the  oratorical  contest.  As  a  consequence 
there  has  grown  a  much  higher  ideal  of  systematic  train- 
ing in  oratory. 

Student  organizations  and  student  activities  have  shown 
a  tendency  to  multiply  in  recent  years,  often  to  the  detri- 
ment of  regular  class-room  work;  it  should  be  said,  how- 
ever, that  most  of  the  activities  possess  a  value  of  their 
own.  Here,  as  in  real  life,  success  turns  on  learning 
where  to  lay  the  emphasis. 

The  teaching  force  had  at  this  time  begun  to  show  a 
hopeful  tendency  toward  continuity,  a  sufficient  number 
to  form  a  good  working  nucleus  continuing  for  a  decade 

307 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

or  more.  A  few  excellent  teachers  came,  stayed  a  short 
time,  and  then  passed  on  to  other  work.  Professor  Fiske 
retired  after  one  year,  and  Professor  Yothers  returned 
from  graduate  study  in  the  University  of  Chicago  to  take 
up  the  work  laid  down  the  year  before. 

Professor  J.  Ellis  Maxwell  was  called,  in  1905,  to  the 
Chair  of  Biology  and  Chemistry  in  Western  College  from 
the  position  of  Dean  and  Professor  of  Natural  Science 
in  York  College.  His  administrative  experience,  calmlv 
judicious  turn  of  mind  and  pedagogical  tact  added  to 
unusual  proficiency  in  his  chosen  subjects  made  him  a 
valuable  addition  to  the  faculty.  He  had  a  talent  for 
influencing  and  directing  the  collective  student  activities, 
especially  such  as  the  lecture  course,  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  and  the 
management  of  athletics.  When  Professor  Maxwell 
withdrew,  in  1909,  to  enter  the  more  remunerative  busi- 
ness field,  his  withdrawal  occasioned  much  regret. 

Professor  E.  S.  Smith  came,  in  1905,  as  Principal  of 
the  reorganized  Normal  School.  He  remained  until  1907, 
at  which  time  the  new  State  law  had  shifted  the  emphasis 
from  Pedagogy  of  secondary  rank  to  Education  of  strictly 
College  grade.  Professor  Smith  then  returned  to  public 
school  work. 

In  1906  Professor  J.  Harding  Underwood  was  secured 
as  Professor  of  History  and  Political  Science.  He  was 
an  alumnus  of  this  College,  and  had  won  unusual  scho- 
lastic distinctions ;  the  year  following  his  graduation  from 
Western  he  was  Graduate  Scholar  in  Economics  in  the 
State  University  of  Iowa ;  and  the  next  year  Fellow  in 
Economics  in  the  same  university;  and  the  next  Univer- 
sity Fellow  in  Sociology  in  Columbia  University,  from 
which  university  he  received  the  Ph.D.  degree.  Pro- 
fessor Underwood's  work  had  reached  only  the  middle  of 

308 


The  Next  Step 

his  first  year  in  Leander  Clark  College  when,  to  the  great 
disappointment  of  his  classes  here,  he  was  called  away  to 
a  similar  position  in  the  University  of  Montana.  Since 
going  to  Montana,  Professor  Underwood  has  been  sent 
e.n-h  year  as  commissioner  from  Montana  to  the  Inter- 
national Tax  Conference,  and  has  written  several  mono- 
graphs on  economic  subjects — "Distribution  of  Owner- 
ship," 1907;  "Inheritance  Taxation,"  1908;  and  "Debtor's 
Homestead  Exemption,"  1909. 

Professor  G.  E.  Chapman  was  the  successful  Principal 
of  the  Business  College  from  1905  to  1907  and  1909-10. 
He  has  also  been  financial  secretary  for  the  College  since 
1907. 

Mrs.  W.  C.  Pierce  has  been  the  very  efficient  teacher 
of  Shorthand  and  Typewriting  since  1906.  Most  of  that 
time  she  has  been  also  secretary  to  the  president,  a  posi- 
tion for  which  she  is  peculiarly  well  qualified.  It  would 
be  difficult  to  find  any  office  with  more  orderly,  more 
complete,  or  more  accessible  records  than  the  College  has 
now. 

An  important  forward  step  was  the  creation,  in  1907, 
of  the  Chair  of  Education  and  the  calling  of  Professor 
Ross  Masters  to  fill  the  new  chair.  The  department  is 
now  fully  recognized  by  the  State  Educational  Board,  and 
graduates  who  have  the  required  credits  in  Education  are 
granted  a  five-year  State  certificate,  subject  to  renewal. 
Professor  Masters  is  gifted  as  but  few  men  are  with  a 
happy  faculty  for  imparting  instruction.  He  is  genial, 
tactful,  always  alert,  and  full  of  apt  devices.  He  has  been 
affectionately  styled  "the  students'  friend." 

Charles  Rollin  Shatto,  another  alumnus,  was  called  to 
the  Chair  of  History  and  Political  Science,  in  1907,  to 
succeed  Dr.  Ira  Holbrook,  who  had  supplied  the  depart- 

309 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

merit  after  the  resignation  of  Professor  Underwood. 
Professor  Shatto  grew  from  boyhood  in  the  very  shadow 
of  the  College,  and  consequently  is  thoroughly  imbued 
with  its  spirit  and  traditions.  He  has  taken  a  deep 
interest  in  the  management  of  many  student  activities. 

The  calling  of  Professor  A.  P.  Kephart,  in  January, 
1908,  as  Professor  of  Physical  Science  and  Director  of 
Athletics,  makes  another  forward  step  toward  the  system- 
atic control  of  College  atheltics.  Though  he  remained 
but  two  terms,  Professor  Kephart  was  able  to  inaugurate 
what  has  since  been  worked  out  as  a  fixed  policy,  namely, 
the  direction  of  athletics,  especially  on  the  business  side 
and  in  the  matter  of  intercollegiate  relations  by  a  mem- 
ber of  the  regular  College  faculty.  The  system  is  prov- 
ing most  beneficial. 

President  C.  J.  Kephart  took  up  the  work  of  the  presi- 
dency in  February,  1905,  at  a  time  of  severe  stress  and 
considerable  depression.  Little  in  the  way  of  tangible 
results  had  so  far  come  from  the  effort  to  meet  Major 
Clark's  offer  in  the  matter  of  endowment  and  the  internal 
life  of  the  school  was  suffering  from  the  recent  loss  of 
one  who  had  been  its  head  and  trusted  leader  for  ten 
years.  President  Kephart  threw  his  whole  soul  and  all 
his  mighty  energy  into  the  work.  His  share  in  the  great 
endowment  effort  has  been  given  already,  and  it  remains 
only  to  mention  his  superb  qualities  of  masterful  leader- 
ship and  his  management  of  the  closing  days  of  that 
memorable  campaign,  and  especially  in  the  planning  and 
directing  of  the  Semi-Centennial  Celebration  and  Jubilee. 
As  soon  as  the  finances  of  the  school  gave  promise  of 
allowing  it,  President  Kephart  turned  with  deep  satis- 
faction to  the  class  room  and  devoted  to  instruction  what 
time  could  be  spared  from  field  duties.      As  a  teacher, 

310 


The  Next  Step 

President  Kephart  possessed  the  elements  of  greatness. 
He  was  earnest,  thoughtful,  fond  of  profound  problems, 
and  endowed  with  pedagogical  instinct  of  a  high  order. 
His  greatest  strength,  however,  lay  in  his  rare  gifts  as  a 
platform  orator;  whether  the  occasion  called  for  a  ser- 
mon, a  bit  of  inspiration  for  the  moment,  or  an  elaborate 
address,  he  was  ever  ready  to  rise  to  the  occasion  and  win 
distinction  for  himself  and  for  the  College  he  represented. 
Owing  in  part,  at  least,  to  the  attractiveness  of  the  pulpit, 
President  Kephart  resigned  in  1908  and  accepted  a  call 
to  the  First  United  Brethren  Church,  Dayton,  Ohio. 

Some  of  the  College  enterprises  carried  to  successful 
completion  by  President  Kephart,  in  addition  to  complet- 
ing the  v$150,000  endowment,  are:  The  converting  of 
Drury  Hall  into  a  modern  home  suitable  for  the  College 
president ;  the  building  of  a  temporary  gymnasium ;  the 
placing  of  a  new  furnace  in  Beatty  Hall  and  in  the  Con- 
servatory of  Music ;  extensive  repairs  on  the  furnaces  in 
the  Administrative  Building;  putting  in  cement  walks  at 
-  the  College  and  at  the  Conservatory ;  practically  doubling 
the  equipment  of  the  science  laboratories  and  the  number 
of  volumes  in  the  librar}\ 


311 


Chapter  XIII. 

ANOTHER    PRELIMINARY    STEP.  PRESIDENT    F.    E. 

BROOKE.      BURNING  OF   NOTES   AND  MORTGAGES.      IN- 
TERNAL     AFFAIRS.         TEACHERS  AND      STUDENTS. 

QUADRENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

The  Board  meeting  of  June,  1908.  revealed  a  somewhat 
new  aspect  of  the  ever-recurring  dilemma  of  running  a 
College.  When  the  endowment  was  secured  the  cooper- 
ating conferences,  feeling  that  the  apportionment  they 
had  been  paying  annually  toward  the  support  of  the 
College  was  now  no  longer  needed,  ceased  almost  entirely 
to  make  their  usual  contributions;  perhaps  even  the  Col- 
lege authorities  were  momentarily  beguiled  into  believing 
that  such  contributions  might  soon  be  dispensed  with.  It 
was  soon  discovered,  however,  that  the  added  income 
from  the  endowment  was  not  sufficient  to  cover  the  added 
expense  of  paying  salaries  in  full  and  of  making  the 
additions  to  the  teaching  force  the  situation  demanded, 
and  a  margin  of  obligations  had  accumulated  through  the 
repairs  and  improvements  mentioned  at  the  close  of  the 
preceding  chapter,  each  leaving  a  considerable  margin 
between  the  final  cost  and  the  funds  secured  for  the 
special  improvement. 

But  the  great  source  of  embarrassment  was  still  the 
old  debt.  Some  twelve  thousand  dollars  remained  un- 
paid, and  every  dollar  of  it  was  drawing  interest  every 
day.  Repeated  efforts  had  been  made  to  collect  the  notes 
and  pledges  that  had  been  given  to  meet  the  debt,  yet  for 
various  reasons  payments  on  principal  were  coming  in 
very  slowly  and  payments  on  interest  were  insignificant. 
So,  as  a  natural  consequence,  the  debt  had  ere  this  out- 

312 


Another  Preliminary  Step 

grown  the  dependable  debt  paying  assets,  and  the  margin 
between  was  widening  every  day.  It  is  no  disparagement 
to  the  donors  to  say  that  the  money  value  of  the  debt 
notes  was  decreasing  with  the  lengthening  of  time ;  such 
is  the  case  also  with  commercial  obligations.  In  this  case 
a  surprisingly  large  proportion  of  the  donors  were  persons 
of  small  means,  very  many  of  them  itinerant  ministers 
dependent  upon  their  meager  salaries  for  the  support  of 
their  families.  With  such,  sickness  and  death  meant  utter 
inability  to  pay,  and  unforeseen  financial  embarrassment 
meant  a  case  calling  for  forbearance  at  the  hands  of  a 
benevolent  institution  supported  by  charity.  Some,  too, 
no  doubt,  feeling  the  obligation  less  and  less  as  time  went 
by,  were  seeking  excuses  to  escape  altogether. 

From  these  three  sources  the  College  found  itself  face 
to  face  with  a  debt  of  more  than  twenty  thousand  dollars, 
and  the  imperative  need  of  prompt  and  decisive  action  to 
keep  the  amount  from  increasing.  As  a  first  step  the 
Board  of  Trustees  issued  a  strong  official  appeal  to  the 
cooperating  conferences,  asking  them  to  return  to  the 
plan  of  annual  assessments  for  the  benefit  of  the  College ; 
the  amount  asked  for  was  twenty-five  cents  per  member 
each  year.  The  next  step  was  to  find  a  man  for  the 
vacant  presidency  who  could  stop  the  leaks  in  old 
resources  and  create  new  resources  where  none  existed. 
who  was,  in  fact,  a  modern  captain  of  industry  capable  of 
taking  a  complicated  business  and  so  organizing  it  as  to 
insure  the  least  possible  waste  and  the  largest  possible 
margin  of  profit,  and  who  at  the  same  time  was  a  genius 
at  winning  and  holding  patronage  for  this  enterprise. 
He  must  be  the  model  college  president  described  by  the 
Indian  Witness:  "The  college  president  of  to-day  needs 
to  be  a  man  who  can  go  out  and  pick  up  a  hundred  dollars 

313 


Western — Leander-Clork  College 

before  breakfast  and  round  up  a  half  million  or  so  by  the 
time  he  goes  to  bed.  He  must  be  young,  too,  and  amaz- 
ingly popular  both  with  the  father  who  wants  his  boy  to 
behave  and  with  the  boy  who  does  not  want  to  behave. 
There  is  a  job  for  this  man  at  twelve  hundred  dollars  a 
year." 

After  extended  search  and  much  deliberation  the 
Trustees  selected  for  the  presidency  of  the  College  a 
young  man  of  their  own  number  with  no  other  experience 
in  college  administration  than  came  to  him  as  an  energetic 
member  of  the  Board,  but  with  invaluable  discipline  in 
other  positions  of  responsibility.  That  young  man  was 
F.  Ellsworth  Brooke,  at  the  time  organizer  and  first  pastor 
of  the  First  United  Brethren  Church,  Kansas  City,  Mis- 
souri. The  wisdom  of  the  choice  is  becoming  more  cer- 
tain every  day.  President  Brooke  is  succeeding  even 
beyond  the  expectation  of  his  closest  friends,  and  is 
revealing  a  talent  for  conservative,  yet  thoroughly  aggres- 
sive and  creative  financial  administration  that  is  close 
akin  to  genius. 

The  biography  of  President  Brooke  would  read  much 
like  that  of  any  typical  American,  who,  through  combined 
capacity,  character,  and  aspiration,  plus  a  native  tact,  has 
risen  to  a  position  of  trust  and  responsibility.  A  youth 
in  the  country,  a  few  years  of  teaching  in  the  public 
schools,  a  college  education  that  cost  real  effort  and  sacri- 
fice, some  years  in  the  ministry,  and  then  the  management 
of  a  large  business  —  such  is  the  story.  The  business 
experience,  with  its  discipline  of  absolute  method  and 
exhaustive  calculation  of  resources,  has  been  an  invaluable 
preparation  for  the  administration  of  a  modern  college 
wherein  the  chief  demand  is  for  the  qualities  of  a  captain 
of  industry  and  a  master  of  men.      President  Brooke 

314 


Another  Preliminary  Step 

possessed  also  to  a  high  degree  the  ability  to  map  out  a 
whole  course  of  action,  and  then  carry  the  plan  through 
with  persistent  energy.  Along  with  that  goes  a  touch  of 
contagious  hopefulness  and  a  gleam  of  larger  possibilities. 

President  Brooke's  first  task  was  to  wipe  out  the  indebt- 
edness against  the  College  as  a  preliminary  step  to  larger 
endowment  and  new  buildings,  but  at  the  same  time  the 
immediate  internal  needs  of  the  school  must  not  be  neg- 
lected. As  a  starter  toward  the  latter,  John  Shambaugh 
promptly  gave  $1,000  with  which  to  refurnish  the  chemi- 
cal laboratory,  and  Adam  Shambaugh  followed  with  $500 
for  the  same  purpose.  Other  friends  furnished  money 
for  remodeling  rooms  for  the  Business  College  and  for 
other  equipments.  Then  the  direct  attack  upon  the  old 
debt  began. 

As  resources  for  paying  the  debt  the  College  had, 
first,  a  bundle  of  old  notes  of  somewhat  uncertain  value ; 
second,  a  farm  in  Minnesota ;  and  third,  a  true  and  tried 
constituency.  The  farm  was  soon  converted  into  cash 
and  the  money  used  to  cancel  debt  and  stop  a  proportion- 
ate amount  of  interest.  For  collecting  the  old  notes  a 
systematic,  vigorous,  and  persistent  plan  was  put  into 
operation  with  surprisingly  good  results.  The  follow-up 
system  of  correspondence  pursued  with  steadfast  insist- 
ence and  frequent  resort  to  the  registered  letter  device 
brought  good  returns.  A  judicious  and  tactful  insistence 
at  all  times,  employing  sharpness  when  sharpness  was 
fitting,  and  consideration  when  consideration  was  due 
often  brought  payment  even  where  hope  of  receiving  any- 
thing had  been  abandoned.  The  real  test,  however,  came 
in  soliciting  new  funds.  People  are  always  reluctant  to 
contribute  to  pay  off  an  old  score;  in  this  instance  the 
embarrassment  of  the  solicitor  was  aggravated  by  the 

315 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

prevalent  impression  that  the  debt  had  actually  been  paid. 
It  was  a  most  trying  task,  requiring  peculiar  grit  and 
perseverance,  and  yet  a  task  that  must  be  done  and  done 
once  for  all  or  the  cause  would  suffer  greatly;  so  Presi- 
dent Brooke  set  about  it  with  a  tenacity  of  purpose  that 
knew  no  letting  go  until  the  desired  end  should  be  reached. 
President  Brooke  himself  headed  the  list  with  $1,000. 
Father  Jacob  Gutshall  followed  with  another  $1,000. 
S.  R.  Lichtenwalter,  always  a  true  friend  in  times  of  need, 
gave  $500;  Hon.  H.  J.  Stiger  and  Mrs.  Emma  Butler 
contributed  like  amounts.  Other  good  friends  gave  in 
larger  or  smaller  amounts.  Still  the  task  was  a  long  and 
arduous  one;  a  year  slipped  away  and  still  the  goal  had 
not  been  reached.  Toward  the  end  of  the  first  year,  Rev. 
O.  G.  Mason  was  engaged  as  field  secretary  to  assist  in 
the  canvass  for  money  and  also  to  aid  in  the  campaign  for 
students.  January  1,  1910,  found  the  whole  amount 
pledged,  and  one  month  more  saw  all  the  pledges  paid 
and  all  obligations  against  the  College  canceled. 

February  1,  1910,  is  another  red-letter  day  in  the  cal- 
endar of  Leander  Clark  College.  On  that  day  the  notes 
and  mortgages  against  the  College  were  burned  with 
appropriate  ceremonies.  The  following  paragraphs  from 
President  Brooke's  account  of  the  occasion  are  in  place 
here: 

"With  the  College  chapel  packed  to  overflowing  with 
hundreds  of  students,  College  officials,  townspeople,  and 
out-of-town  visitors,  amid  the  harmony  of  College  songs 
and  the  deafening  'yells'  of  the  students,  all  the  old  notes 
and  mortgages,  the  last  vestige  of  evidence  of  indebted- 
ness against  Leander  Clark  College,  went  up  in  smoke  this 
day  from  the  torch  applied  by  the  hand  of  Hon.  S.  R. 
Lichtenwalter.     Did  I  say  all  ?     I  must  correct  that  state- 

316 


Another  Preliminary  Step 

ment.  One  note  was  not  burned.  It  seemed  almost 
sacrilegious  to  consign  to  the  flames  the  Mary  J.  Spensley 
note.  This  note  was  given  September  6,  1890,  for 
$25,000.  There  had  been  partial  payments  made,  leaving 
a  balance  of  $10,500.  It  was  signed  by  the  following- 
named  persons:  J.  S.  Mills,  M.  S.  Drury,  A.  M.  Beal, 
B.  M.  Long,  L.  H.  Bufkin,  E.  R.  Smith,  H/  VV.  Ward, 
R.  Shatto,  J.  A.  Ward,  H.  J.  Stiger,  W.  C.  Smith,  W.  I. 
Beatty,  E.  F.  Warren,  W.  S.  Reese,  William  P.  Soth, 
H.  H.  Withington,  A.  J.  Wheaton,  James  Callahan,  G.  C. 
Wescott,  C.  A.  Benson,  M.  Cole,  Isaac  Stauffer,  R.  L. 
Hegarty,  J.  A.  Lichtenwalter,  S.  R.  Lichtenwalter,  I.  K. 
Statton,  D.  H.  Kurtz,  J.  S.  McKee,  E.  B.  Kephart,  D.  C. 
Overholser,  Emanuel  Shope,  W.  F.  Cronk,  W.  J.  Ham, 
A.  H.  Shambaugh,  and  John  Shambaugh. 

"There  were  thirty-five  in  all,  fifteen  of  whom  have 
passed  away.  It  meant  something  to  go  under  this  load 
and  help  raise  the  fund  to  rebuild  the  College  which  had 
been  destroyed  by  fire  on  Christmas  night  a  few  months 
before.  So  we  had  this  note  nicely  framed,  and  it  hangs 
as  a  memorial  to  these  stalwart  men  who  made  this  glad 
day  possible  by  their  heroic  act  almost  twenty  years  ago. 

"It  was  a  fitting  close  to  the  hard  campaign  inaugurated 
by  the  undersigned  at  the  beginning  of  his  administration 
eighteen  months  ago.  There  were  but  two  planks  put 
into  our  platform.  First,  'Run  the  very  best  College  pos- 
sible on  the  income,  and  pay  cash  as  we  go.'  Second, 
'Collect  in  on  all  the  old  notes  and  other  assets  of  the 
College  and  gather  enough  new  money  by  January  1,  1910, 
to  pay  off  all  the  debts  and  stop  the  interest.'  Both  of 
these  pledges  were  redeemed  to-day,  and  Leander  Clark 
College  is  absolutely  free  of  debt." 

317 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

A  fuller  account  published  in  the  Leander  Clark  Era 
shows  what  significance  the  older  students  attached  to  the 
occasion : 

"Many  times  has  the  old  bell  in  the  tower  proclaimed 
glad  tidings  to  the  people  of  Toledo.  Many  times  has  its 
clear  notes  caused  its  supporters  to  feel  the  joy  that  makes 
the  heart  beat  fast.  Merrily  and  with  unmistakable 
righteousness  did  it  ring  when  the  old  debt  was  paid  and 
again  did  its  iron  tongue  peal  forth  the  glad  tidings  of 
success  in  the  endowment  campaign.  But  never  did  it, 
or  will  it  ring  with  such  heartfelt  tones  as  it  did  on  last 
Tuesday  morning,  when  it  announced  to  the  world  that, 
after  the  heart-rending  struggle  of  over  half  a  century, 
Leander  Clark  College  could  face  the  world  with  a  clear 
title,  backed  by  the  assertion  of  its  indomitable  president 
that  'Never  as  long  as  I  shall  serve  the  College,  nor  with 
my  consent  shall  there  be  a  dollar's  indebtedness  against 
the  fair  name  of  Leander  Clark.'  The  tones  of  that  old 
bell  seemed  like  a  benediction  from  those  noble  men  so 
long  departed,  who  gave  the  best  part  of  their  lives  that 
this  old  College  might  have  everlasting  life. 

"With  the  ringing  of  the  seven-thirty  class  bell  on 
Tuesday  morning  the  very  spirit  of  freedom  seemed  to 
permeate  the  atmosphere.  To  us  who  have  so  long  known 
the  conditions  the  old  school  seemed  different,  as  though  a 
crushing  weight  had  been  lifted  and  at  last  it  might  inhale 
one  long  pure  breath. 

"Every  one  was  smiling,  and  as  the  students  passed 
each  other  in  the  hallways  there  seemed  to  be  a  new  spirit 
impelling  them.  Professors  who  have  for  years  placed 
their  faith  in  Leander  Clark  College  seemed  to  have  taken 
a  new  lease  on  life  and  acted  accordingly. 

318 


Another  Preliminary  Step 

"The  chapel  room  was  beautifully  decorated  with  pen- 
nants, and  though  the  pennons  of  Iowa,  Chicago,  Michi- 
gan, and  other  great  schools  were  there,  that  of  Leander 
Clark  seemed  to  dignify  them  by  its  presence.  Never  did 
it  seem  so  beautiful  as  on  this  day  when  it  could,  for  the 
first  time,  float  untarnished  before  the  eyes  of  men.  And 
when  we  think  of  all  that  pennant  stands  for,  our  heads 
are  bowed  in  reverence  to  those  noble  men  and  women 
who  sacrificed  so  much  that  we  might  enjoy  the  blessings 
which  they  never  knew. 

"After  the  invocation  of  Rev.  Seese,  and  musical  selec- 
tions by  Professor  Thickstun  and  the  College  Quartette, 
President  Brooke  introduced  Hon.  E.  C.  Ebersole,  a 
former  president  of  the  institution,  who  rapidly  reviewed 
the  life  of  the  College  from  its  foundation  to  the  present 
day,  adding  many  incidents  in  passing  to  make  plain  the 
seriousness  of  the  conditions.  Mr.  Ebersole  has  been  one 
of  the  most  helpful  supporters  of  the  school  during  its 
existence,  and,  being  in  close  touch  with  it  at  all  times, 
was  well  qualified  to  give  its  history. 

"Hon.  H.  J.  Stiger  then  told  of  the  'Black  Friday'  of 
the  institution,  of  how  a  band  of  serious,  earnest-hearted 
men  came  some  years  ago  to  the  office  of  his  firm  seeking 
a  loan  of  $25,000  and  how  they  got  it.  He  said  there  were 
thirty-five  men  who  signed  the  note,  any  one  of  whom  was 
liable  to  the  full  amount  of  the  note.  And  he  modestly 
neglected  to  state  that  his  own  name  was  one  of  the 
thirty-five. 

"After  a  vocal  solo  by  Miss  Medlar,  Major  Leander 
Clark,  our  honored  patron,  was  called  on  for  a  few  re- 
marks, and  as  the  old  gentleman  arose  there  rang  through- 
out the  room  the  yell,  C-C-C-1-a-a-a-a-r-k,  Clark.  Major 
Clark  then  told  how  and  why  President  Brooke  had  been 

319 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

secured,  how  the  trustees  had  based  their  hopes  on  him  as 
a  financier,  and  how  well  he  had  justified  their  hopes. 
He  moved  a  vote  of  confidence  and  esteem  to  the  presi- 
dent, and  after  the  vote  had  been  taken,  asked  the  'young 
fellows  to  give  a  good  yell  for  President  Brooke.'  Then 
the  old  building  fairly  shook. 

"President  Brooke  then  produced  a  bundle  of  papers 
which  proved  to  be  the  notes  and  mortgages  which  the 
College  had  been  carrying  for  so  long  a  time.  He  read 
all  the  notes,  stating  when  and  how  they  were  given,  and 
for  what  sum  and  purpose.  They  were  then  handed  to 
Dean  Ward  who  burned  them  in  a  crucible  fixed  up  for 
that  purpose.  S.  R.  Lichtenwalter,  for  many  years  a 
staunch  adherent  of  the  College  and  a  faithful  trustee, 
applied  the  torch  as  Dean  Ward  dropped  the  notes  a  few 
at  a  time  into  the  crematory. 

"One  note  alone  was  saved.  It  was  the  one  on  which 
those  thirty-five  brave  men  inscribed  their  names.  To 
destroy  it  were  sacrilege.  With  the  marks  of  cancella- 
tion plainly  visible  on  its  face,  it  was  framed  and  will 
hang  on  the  walls  of  the  office  as  an  eternal  monument 
to  guarantee  its  payment. 

"Another  paper,  a  mortgage,  was  also  burned,  but  before 
it  was  set  on  fire,  Mr.  Ebersole  looked  it  over  with  the 
words  'I've  helped  support  you  for  a  long  time,  but  this 
is  the  first  time  I  have  ever  seen  you,'  and  as  he  tossed  it 
into  the  fire,  'May  you  have  lots  of  company  and  no 
successors.    Peace  be  to  your  ashes.' 

"J.  M.  R.  Hanson  took  several  pictures  of  the  scene 
and  they  will  appear  in  the  '11  Cardinal.  The  Ladies' 
Glee  Club  rendered  a  musical  selection,  after  which  the 
audience  fervently  sang  'Alma  Mater,'  and  were  dismissed 
by  Rev.  Southard's  benediction. 

320 


AUSTIA  PATTERSON  SHUMAKER 

First  Missionary  sent  out  from  the  College 


REV.  I.  N.  CAIN 
Leader  of  our  Martyred  Missionaries 


MRS.  I.  N.  CAIN 
Massacred  in  the  Uprising  of  May  3,  1898. 


MARY  ARCHER,  M.D. 
One  of  our  Martyred  Missionaries. 


Another  Preliminary  Step 

"To  new  students  and  to  those  hearing  of  Leander 
Clark  College  for  the  first  time,  this  occasion  may  mean 
very  little,  and  it  may  seem  to  some  that  we  are  making 
a  great  deal  of  fuss  over  so  small  a  circumstance.  But 
to  us  it  appears  in  a  different  light.  It  means  that  the 
goal  toward  which  the  College  has  been  struggling  for 
fifty-four  years  has  at  last  been  reached.  It  means  a  new 
birth  for  the  school,  a  new  lease  on  life.  From  now  on 
the  College  may  grow  and  enlarge,  whereas  before  it  had 
to  fight  hard  to  keep  even  with  the  world. 

"It  means  that  more  buildings  and  more  endowment 
will  come  to  increase  the  sphere  of  usefulness  of  Leander 
Clark  College.  It  means  that  the  faith  of  the  founders 
of  the  school  has  been  vindicated,  and  that  the  judgment 
of  those  who  have  controlled  its  destinies  has  been  com- 
pletely justified.  It  means  more  students  and  better 
equipment,  and  a  thousand  other  things  which  can  be 
more  easily  thought  of  than  written. 

"What  the  future  holds  for  us  we  cannot  tell,  but  we 
believe  that  the  signs  all  point  to  a  larger  and  greater 
Leander  Clark  College,  and  again  we  say,  'Gloria  in 
Excelsis  Deo.'  " 

A  few  words  regarding  the  internal  life  of  the  school 
will  not  be  amiss  here.  The  years  since  the  securing  of 
the  endowment  have  been  years  of  substantial  growth  in 
every  way.  The  creation  of  the  Chair  of  Education  and 
the  establishment  of  the  Directorship  of  Athletics  have 
already  been  recorded  and  some  mention  has  been  made 
of  added  equipment.  Other  extensive  additions  have 
been  made  to  the  library  and  to  the  equipment  of  the 
various  laboratories.  The  interior  of  the  Administration 
Building  has  been  improved  and  beautified ;  the  remodel- 

321 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

ing  of  rooms  for  the  Business  College  and  the  adorning 
of  the  chapel  add  greatly  both  to  the  utility  and  to  the 
appearance  of  the  building. 

Never  in  the  history  of  the  College  has  there  been  so 
enthusiastic  and  loyal  a  student  body,  and  never  so  strong 
a  feeling  of  assurance  among  trustees  and  alumni.  There 
has  been  in  the  past  a  conscious  purpose  to  make  the  work 
of  the  College  genuinely  meritorious  in  all  that  is  under- 
taken ;  now  that  purpose  is  reinforced  by  a  renewed 
hopefulness  and  sense  of  permanency.  There  is  a  deeper 
sense  of  oneness  in  the  whole  life  of  the  institution — 
past,  present,  and  future — and  a  closer  feeling  of  fellow- 
ship among  all  who  at  any  time  have  been  admitted  into 
the  great  College  family.  The  demand  for  a  history  such 
as  this  proves  that  there  is  a  new  awakening  to  the  sacred- 
ness  of  College  traditions  and  a  growing  sense  of  pride  in 
all  that  belongs  to  the  family  story.  Particularly  are  the 
alumni  rallying  around  the  institution  as  never  before, 
loyal  and  true  though  they  have  ever  been. 

The  feeling  of  unity  in  the  present  student  body  is 
cultivated  most  perhaps  by  those  activities  that  bring  the 
College  into  close  relations  with  other  colleges;  these  are 
primarily  intercollegiate  athletic  contests  and  contests  in 
oratory  and  debate. 

In  athletic  relations  there  has  been  much  advancement 
in  recent  years.  Owing  mainly  to  better  local  control  in 
the  matter  of  eligibility  to  membership  on  the  various 
teams,  and  especially  to  an  efficient  system  of  training, 
the  College  gained  sufficient  standing  and  dignity  to  be 
admitted  to  a  place  on  the  schedules  of  some  of  the  best 
colleges  in  the  State.  This  tends  to  create  a  higher 
degree  of  College  patriotism.  Locally,  athletics  are  being 
more  and  more  utilized,  not  only  as  a  safety  valve  for 

322 


Another  Preliminary  Step 

surplus  vitality,  but  also  as  a  powerful  incentive  to 
scholarship,  and,  indeed,  as  an  educational  value  in  them- 
selves. 

The  largest  student  activity  in  recent  years — student 
activity  referring  to  those  side  interests  that  lie  apart 
from  the  stated  exercises  of  the  class  room  and  literary 
hall — is  perhaps  in  the  line  of  public  speaking.  Trustees, 
faculty,  and  alumni  have  united  to  stimulate  interest  in 
forensic  matters.  The  College  had  for  many  years  been 
a  member  of  the  State  Oratorical  Association  and  held 
local  contests  preliminary  to  those  of  the  State ;  occasional 
intercollegiate  debates  had  also  been  held,  but  these  were 
somewhat  haphazard,  each  contest  being  usually  planned 
by  itself  and  within  the  season  in  which  the  contest  was 
to  occur.  Now  a  Forensic  League  with  a  permanent 
organization  has  been  formed  to  promote  interest  in  ora- 
tory and  debate.  The  secretary  of  the  league  is  a 
member  of  the  College  faculty  and  his  chief  duty,  aside 
from  the  routine  work  of  his  department,  is  to  promote 
the  interests  for  which  the  league  stands.  Under  the 
direction  of  the  Forensic  Council  a  series  of  triangular 
intercollegiate  and  interacademic  debates  has  been  organ- 
ized extending  over  a  period  of  years,  and  local  contests 
with  prizes  attached  have  been  devised  to  stimulate  sus- 
tained and  systematic  preparation. 

The  religious  life  of  the  College  has  always  been 
earnest  and  strong,  though  more  pronounced  at  certain 
periods  than  at  others.  In  the  earlier  days  there  was  a 
close  relation  between  the  College  and  the  local  church, 
and  special  times  of  spiritual  awakening  in  the  church 
were  felt  deeply  among  the  students.  The  tendency  in 
later  times  to  multiply  organizations  within  both  church 
and  College,  and  to  specialize  effort  within  narrow  fields 

323 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

has  somewhat  separated  spiritual  activity  in  the  College 
from  that  of  the  church,  and  has  centered  the  religious 
life  of  the  former  ahout  the  Christian  Association.  These 
associations  are  seldom  without  strong  leadership,  and 
under  such  leadership  are  always  a  power  for  righteous- 
ness in  the  life  of  the  College. 

Another  new  element  in  the  very  recent  life  of  the 
College  is  the  working  out  of  a  more  complete  and  com- 
prehensive system  of  administration  both  in  internal 
management  and  in  business  affairs.  As  now  organized 
the  faculty  works  on  the  principle  of  specialization  in 
administration  as  in  teaching ;  each  has  his  special  "stunt" 
assigned.  One  concentrates  upon  the  forensic  interests 
of  the  College,  another  upon  directing  the  athletic  activi- 
ties of  the  students,  another  upon  securing  positions  for 
graduates,  and  still  others  upon  other  interests.  The 
same  person  is  kept  in  charge  of  the  same  interest  from 
year  to  year,  and  works  in  accordance  with  a  definite 
policy  that  looks  forward  to  permanent  results. 

The  business  of  the  College  has  at  last  reached  bed- 
rock banking  methods.  Transactions  now  may  require 
some  red  tape,  but  they  are  cautious  and  orderly.  The 
office  knows  at  any  time  just  how  the  business  of  the 
College  stands.  Readily  accessible  files  of  all  transactions 
and  correspondence  are  in  neat  completeness.  The  whole 
business  policy  of  the  institution  looks  toward  solidity  and 
soundness. 

The  close  of  the  scholastic  year  1909-1910  witnessed 
the  first  Quadrennial  Celebration  and  Home  Coming. 
This  was  four  years  after  the  great  Semi-Centennial  and 
will,  it  is  hoped,  inaugurate  the  custom  of  making  every 
fourth  year  a  special  home  coming  and  time  of  rejoicing. 
At   this    first   celebration,    graduates    and    old    students 

324 


Another  Preliminary  Step 

flocked  back  in  great  numbers  and  friends  came  from  near 
and  far  to  join  in  the  festivities. 

On  Baccalaureate  Sunday,  Rev.  A.  E.  Wright,  of 
Chicago,  preached  a  masterful  sermon  that  set  a  high 
standard  of  excellence  for  the  other  programs  of  the 
week.  On  Monday,  visitors  were  taken  on  an  automobile 
ride  to  the  Indian  School  and  Indian  Camp ;  in  the  even- 
ing the  literary  societies  held  their  usual  banquets  and 
reunions,  but  with  more  than  the  usual  amount  of  mingled 
mirth  and  pathos.  On  Tuesday  the  old  students  held  a 
campfire  under  the  leadership  of  J.  A.  Shuey,  '65.  On 
Wednesday  occurred  the  quadrennial  program  proper. 

This  program  was  historical  in  nature  and  presented 
characteristic  events  and  periods  in  the  life  of  the  Col- 
lege. Hon.  E.  C.  Ebersole,  LL.D.,  of  Toledo,  spoke  of 
"Our  Founder,"'  the  address  being  a  tribute  to  the  first 
president  of  the  College,  Rev.  Solomon  Weaver.  Mr. 
Jacob  A.  Shuey,  '65,  of  Red  Oak,  Iowa,  spoke  with  feel- 
ing and  appreciation  on  the  theme,  "Early  Teachers" ;  he 
paid  tribute  especially  to  Professors  S.  S.  Dillman,  M.  W. 
Bartlett,  and  E.  C.  Ebersole.  Mrs.  S.  J.  Staves,  of  Des 
Moines,  Iowa,  whose  intimate  acquaintance  with  Western 
began  before  the  first  building  was  finished  and  lasted 
through  all  the  early  years,  spoke  tenderly  and  personally 
of  the  "Early  Days,"  and  with  her  fund  of  intimate  mem- 
ories gave  the  later  generation  a  close  glimpse  at  those 
older  times.  Captain  E.  B.  Soper,  of  Emmetsburg,  Iowa, 
one  of  the  first  students  of  Western  to  enlist  in  the  Union 
Army,  discussed  the  subject,  "In  War  Times";  from  his 
thorough  familiarity  with  those  times  he  was  able  to  give 
his  hearers  a  much  more  adequate  impression  than  they 
already  possessed  of  the  large  share  Western  College  had 
in  the  Civil  War.      "The  Dawn  of  a  New  Era"  was  as- 

325 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

signed  to  the  Rev.  J.  H.  Albert,  D.D.,  75,  of  Faribault, 
Minnesota,  the  "New  Era"  being  the  period  covered  by 
the  administration  of  President  E.  B.  Kephart ;  Doctor 
Albert  spoke  of  the  steadfast  and  lofty  purpose  mani- 
fested by  the  College  throughout  those  days,  and  the 
striving  for  substantial  attainments,  the  paramount  aim 
of  all  being  the  making  of  character.  "The  Days  of 
Beardshear''  was  the  theme  of  the  Rev.  C.  M.  Brooke, 
D.D.,  '86,  of  Stillwater.  Oklahoma,  one  who  as  student 
and  alumnus  knew  the  period  thoroughly ;  he  paid  fitting 
tribute  to  the  great  personality  of  President  Beardshear 
and  the  large  undertakings  of  the  College  during  that 
period.  To  the  Rev.  W.  I.  Beatty,  D.D.,  76,  of  Elk 
Point,  South  Dakota,  was  given  the  subject,  "Entering 
the  Promised  Land/'  a  most  fortunate  assignment  as 
Doctor  Beatty  had  shared  with  the  College  the  long, 
depressing  Wilderness  wanderings  through  increasing 
debts  and  multiplied  discouragements,  and  was  one  of  the 
faithful  found  worthy  to  enter  the  promised  land  of  can- 
celed debts  and  a  solid  endowment ;  he  closed  his  address 
with  the  following  poem,  in  which  he  happily  contrasts 
a  dark  period  of  the  past  with  the  full  sunlight  of  the 
present : 

THEN  AND  NOW. 
Then— 1894. 
Western  College  is  the  cry. 
Joyful  note,  just  let  it  fly, 
As  a  pean  in  the  sky, 
Western  College  shall  not  die. 

Sing,  ye  patriot  workers,  sing, 
Make  the  mighty  welkin  ring, 

326 


Another  Preliminary  Step 

Send  through  all  the  land  the  cry. 
Western  College  shall  not  die. 

Sing  aloud  the  battle  cry, 
Make  it  reach  the  very  sky, 
By  the  throne  that  is  on  high, 
Western  College  shall  not  die. 

Now— 1910. 
O  Western  College  did  not  die ! 
She  gathered  strength  to  reach  the  sky. 
She  burst  the  bonds  that  chafe  and  fret, 
And  threw  aside  her  galling  debt. 

The  God  of  battles  won  her  fight, 
And  let  see  a  glorious  light; 
The  streams  of  wealth  he  turned  her  way, 
And  ushered  in  the  brighter  day. 

As  Jacob  changed  to  Is-ra-el, 
When  from  his  heart  the  burden  fell, 
So,  Western  with  a  mighty  plea, 
Changed  her  name  to  L.  C.  C. 

Her  bridal  robes  she  now  doth  wear, 
And  of  her  peers  there's  none  more  fair ; 
But,  while  honest  work  is  still  her  aim, 
Her  old  traditions  she'll  maintain. 

Great  God !  with  hope  we  look  to  thee, 
And  make  for  us  this  earnest  plea : 
May  coming  ages  find  us  still 
Submissive  to  thy  holy  will ! 

327 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

The  alumni  program  and  banquet  on  Wednesday  even- 
ing also  partook  of  the  Quadrennial  Celebration  spirit. 
The  large  hall  of  the  College  gymnasium  had  been  most 
fittingly  decorated  and  served  admirably  for  a  banquet 
hall.  Here  about  two  hundred  alumni  and  their  guests 
gathered  to  participate  in  probably  the  largest  and  most 
successful  banquet  and  reunion  in  the  history  of  the  asso- 
ciation. C.  R.  Shatto,  '90,  served  as  toastmaster.  Music 
was  furnished  by  the  old  Philo  and  Callie  quartets.     Dr. 

E.  R.  Smith,  '86,  responded  to  the  toast,  "The  Old 
Guard,"  in  which  he  spoke  of  the  devotion  and  gallant 
courage  of  the  men  who  established  Western  College 
and  carried  her  safely  through  her  early  conflicts.      Dr. 

F.  E.  Kauffman,  '94,  in  a  most  characteristic  vein,  ans- 
wered to  the  toast,  "Alumni  Patriotism" ;  he  told  how  the 
visit  of  President  Beardshear  first  aroused  a  country 
boy's  dormant  hero  worship  and  then  awakened  a  yearn- 
ing for  something  that  gradually  defined  itself  as  a  college 
education ;  of  how  that  boy  following  the  inner  yearning, 
finally  went  to  college  and  there  experienced  a  new  life 
full  of  human  kindness  and  the  fruits  of  consecrated 
human  intelligence,  a  life  that  still  draws  him  back  peri- 
odically for  a  renewal  of  his  spirit.  Miss  Ada  Meyers, 
'10,  represented  "The  Recruit,"  and  presented  herself  and 
her  classmates  for  membership  in  the  devoted  family  of 
sons  and  daughters  who  revere  the  name  of  Leander 
Clark.  Judge  U.  S.  Guyer,  '94,  standing  at  that  point 
in  the  week's  program  that  turned  from  the  backward 
look  at  the  way  already  traversed  and  set  the  gaze  stead- 
ily toward  the  future,  pleaded  eloquently  for  "A  Greater 
Leander  Clark."  President  Brooke  followed  in  the  same 
strain,  showing  that  the  College  had  met  all  the  obliga- 
tions imposed  by  the  past  and  is  now  facing  the  new 

328 


Another  Preliminary  Step 

and  larger  obligations  of  the  future,  the  chief  of  which 
are  additional  endowment  and  greatly  enlarged  equip- 
ment. He  laid  before  the  association  a  plan  for  raising 
a  special  "Alumni  Endowment  Fund"  as  part  of  the 
general  forward  movement,  a  plan  which  all  the  members 
present  heartily  approved. 

President  George  McA.  Miller  and  Adeline  Dickman 
Miller,  of  Ruskin  College,  both  of  '81,  unable  to  be  pres- 
ent in  person,  sent  greetings  in  the  following  form : 

ALUMNI  GREETINGS  TO  LEANDER  CLARK   COLLEGE. 

Lovely  art  thou,  Alma  Mater,  with  maternal  hopes  and 

fears, 
Easily  the  weight  thou  bearest  of  thy  four  and  fifty  years  ; 
All  thy  sons  and  daughters  greet  thee  from  their  wide 

divergent  ways, 
Near  and  far  they  join  the  chorus  in  thy  well-deserved 

praise. 

Daring  life's  heroic  challenge,  "Who  will  strive  unto  the 

end  ?" 
Each  as  light  the  path  has  pointed,  forth  has  gone  the 

dykes  to  mend; 
Rightly  knowing  that  the  ocean  of  iniquity  and  wrong 
Can't  be  conquered  by  a  sermon ;  neither  conjured  by  a 

song. 

Learning  that  alone  by  doing  will  their  work  on  earth  be 

done, 
And  by  playing,  saying,  praying,  it  is  only  well  begun ; 
Roused  by  Launfal's  vivid  vision  of  the  blessed  "Holy 

Grail," 
Keeping  pure  life's  gushing  fountain,  "strength  of  ten" 

spells,  "never  fail." 

329 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

Ever  forth  at  beck  of  duty,  under  providence — not  fate — 
Calls  of  church  and  school  and  forum,  factory,  mart,  and 

home,  and  State, 
Over  all  appeals  of  mammon,  calling  deftly  to  the  Me, 
Loud  have  rung  and  brought  quick  heeding  e'en   from 

lands  beyond  the  sea. 

Lest  we  err  by  faint  forgetting  of  the  ones  who  by  the 

way, 
E'en  from  realms  beyond  our  vision,  heard  the  call  all 

must  obey, 
Greetings  e'en  from  them  may  cheer  thee,  Alma  Mater 

of  the  blest ; 
E'en  to  strenuous  us  suggesting,  "All  may  enter  into  rest." 

From  George  McA.  and  Adeline  Dickman 
Miller,  with  fond  memories  of  "Old  West- 
em"  and  as  a  tribute  from  the  Class  of  '81. 
Ruskin,  Florida,  June  3,  1910. 

This  record  of  the  First  Quadrennial  Celebration  would 
be  incomplete  without  some  account  of  the  special  exer- 
cises of  commencement  day.  The  novel  feature  of  the 
day  was  holding  the  exercises  in  the  great  pavilion  and 
on  the  grounds  of  the  Central  Iowa  Chautauqua  Asso- 
ciation, and  having  as  the  speaker  of  the  day  a  man  of 
such  wide  fame  as  Joseph  W.  Folk,  of  Missouri.  The 
day  opened  cloudy,  following  heavy  rains  the  preceding 
evening;  yet  the  large  pavilion  was  nearly  filled  with  in- 
terested citizens  of  Toledo  and  Tama  and  surrounding 
country.  Two  bands  furnished  music  for  the  occasion. 
The  address  of  Governor  Folk  was  inspiring  with  its 
plea  for  a  purer  citizenship  and  a  quickened  public  con- 
science.     A  large  senior  class,  surpassed  in  number  but 

330 


Another  Preliminary  Step 

once  in  the  history  of  the  College,  was  graduated.  Presi- 
dent Brooke  announced  the  forward  movement  authorized 
by  the  Board  of  Trustees  and  inaugurated  the  first  part 
of  the  movement — the  securing  of  new  endowment — by 
announcing  a  pledge  of  $25,000  to  that  fund  by  a  donor 
who  wished  his  name  withheld. 

Thus  another  milestone  on  the  upward  journey  of  the 
College  was  reached  and  passed.  The  faces  of  all  are 
now  set  steadfastly  toward  the  future,  and  interest  grows 
intense  as  to  what  the  new  few  years  have  in  store.  The 
key  word  for  the  immediate  future  is,  "Enlargement,  en- 
larged endowment,  enlarged  equipment,  and  enlarged  pat- 
ronage." Courage  and  hope  attend  the  forward  look; 
under  the  splendid  leadership  of  President  Brooke  ex- 
pectation runs  high. 


331 


Chapter  XIV. 

A  CHAPTER  OF  MISCELLANY.  COEDUCATION.  COL- 
LEGE PUBLICATIONS.  ORGANIZATIONS.  MISSIONARIES. 
TRANSPORTATION.      MATERIAL  EQUIPMENT. 

It  seems  desirable  at  this  point  to  devote  a  chapter  to 
the  consideration  of  some  miscellaneous  topics  closely  re- 
lated to  the  life  of  the  College  and  not  yet  adequately 
treated  in  this  history. 

At  the  very  first  the  College  was  organized  as  a  coedu- 
cational institution;  it  was  the  intention  of  the  fathers 
to  give  equal  advantages  to  their  sons  and  daughters.  For 
a  number  of  years  a  distinct  "ladies'  course"  was  main- 
tained, differing  from  the  courses  offered  to  men  in  that 
it  omitted  higher  mathematics,  philosophy,  and  ancient 
languages;  a  "Principal  of  the  Female  Department"  was 
an  indispensable  member  of  the  faculty  for  many  years. 
Finally,  in  1875,  the  ladies'  course  was  dropped  from  the 
catalogue  and  women  were  admitted  to  identical  courses 
with  the  men  and  received  the  same  degrees.  Then,  in 
1881,  the  so-called  "Female  Department"  was  abandoned 
and  the  principal  of  that  department  was  assigned  to  a 
regular  College  chair.  Emily  L.  Dillman  was  principal 
from  1857  to  1860.  She  was  succeeded  in  order  by 
Frances  Spencer,  Hester  A.  Hillis,  Emma  Neidig,  Emma 
Guitner,  Sarah  Jane  Surran,  Amelia  B.  Grove,  Mary 
Louise  Hopwood,  and  Anna  Shuey,  the  last-named  hold- 
ing the  position  until  1881,  at  which  time  the  department 
was  discarded  and  Miss  Shuey  was  made  Professor  of 
Mathematics. 

33? 


A  Chapter  of  Miscellany 

COLLEGE  PUBLICATIONS. 

The  first  publication  in  the  interest  of  the  College  was 
the  Western  College  Advocate  and  Miscellaneous  Maga- 
zine, a  monthly  periodical  edited  and  published  by  Rev. 
Solomon  Weaver  and  Capt.  W.  H.  Shuey.  The  first 
number  was  issued  in  July,  1856.  The  character  and 
history  of  the  paper  have  been  presented  at  length  already 
in  the  body  of  this  history.  One  year  after  the  first 
issue  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  College,  with  the 
hearty  concurrence  of  the  editors  and  proprietors,  took 
charge  of  the  Advocate  and  made  it  officially  what  it  had 
already  been  in  reality,  the  organ  of  the  College.  The 
Advocate  continued  to  be  published  in  magazine  form 
until  1859,  at  which  time  the  College  purchased  a  press, 
changed  the  name  to  Western  College  Reporter,  and 
began  issuing  it  semi-monthly  in  quarto  form.  During 
part  of  the  Civil  War  period  it  was  published  weekly  as 
a  folio  sheet.  The  paper  contained  general  news, 
especially  war  news,  and  official  information  regarding  the 
College,  such  as  lists  of  officers  and  faculty,  courses  of 
study,  and  at  the  end  of  the  year  a  catalogue  of  students. 
In  the  early  seventies  the  name  was  once  more  changed, 
this  time  to  Western  Gazette,  and  its  publication  was  con- 
tinued intermittently  until  the  latter  part  of  1874,  at  which 
time  the  trustees  decided  to  abandon  the  attempt  to  pub- 
lish an  official  paper,  and  sold  the  printing  office  and  press 
to  private  parties.  During  most  of  its  career  the  official 
paper  was  most  creditable  both  in  matter  and  form,  and 
the  service  it  rendered  to  the  College  would  be  hard  to 
over-estimate. 

In  1875,  Mr.  Ralph  Shatto  purchased  the  College  press, 
and  as  a  private  enterprise  began  issuing  a  weekly  news- 
paper, called  the  Western  Light.     The  creed  of  the  new 

333 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

paper,  as  announced  in  the  first  issue,  was :  "In  politics, 
Republican;  in  religion,  the  doctrines  laid  down  in  the 
Discipline  of  the  United  Brethren  Church ;  in  service,  the 
highest  interests  of  Western  College" ;  the  Western  Light 
thus  continued  to  be  the  mouthpiece  of  the  College.  Mr. 
Shatto  published  his  paper  in  Western  until  after  the 
removal  of  the  College ;  he  pleaded  earnestly  but  reason- 
ably against  removal,  remained  behind  one  year,  and  then 
sold  out  and  followed  the  College  to  Toledo,  there  to 
spend  the  remainder  of  his  days  in  the  shadow  of  the 
institution  whose  welfare  he  had  long  promoted. 

The  earliest  catalogue  in  pamphlet  form  that  can  be 
found  bears  the  date  of  1867-8.  Since  that  time,  with  the 
possible  exception  of  1868-69,  (no  catalogue  of  that  date 
has  been  found  for  the  College  files)  the  catalogue  has 
been  issued  annually  at  or  near  the  close  of  the  College 
year.  In  the  issue  of  the  Western  College  Advocate 
for  June,  1858,  the  end  of  the  first  full  College  year,  is 
found  a  fair  substitute  for  a  catalogue.  It  gives  as  coop- 
erating conferences,  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  Rock  River, 
and  Illinois.  The  Executive  Committee  are  J.  E.  Bower- 
sox,  W.  H.  Shuey,  S.  S.  Dillman,  Wm.  Parmenter,  and 
Jacob  Berger.  The  faculty  consisted  of  Rev.  Solomon 
Weaver,  President;  Wm.  Parmenter,  A.M.,  M.D.,  Pro- 
fessor of  Mathematics  and  Physiology;  M.  W.  Bartlett, 
A.M.,  Professor  of  Ancient  Languages;  S.  S.  Dillman, 
Professor  of  Agriculture  and  Natural  Science ;  Mrs.  E.  L. 
Dillman,  Principal  of  the  Ladies'  Department.  This  was 
the  first  regular  faculty.  The  summary  of  students  is: 
Men,  69;  women,  22;  total,  91.  Similar  catalogues  seem 
to  have  been  published  in  the  College  paper  at  the  close 
of  each  school  year,  though  the  only  other  issue  of  that 

334 


A  Chapter  of  Miscellany 

kind  preserved  is  the  Western  College  Reporter,  June  15, 
1864. 

A  year  or  two  after  the  College  was  located  at  Toledo, 
a  small  paper,  the  Teacher  and  Student,  was  issued  joint- 
ly by  the  County  Superintendent  of  Tama  County  and  by 
the  students  of  Western  College.  Then,  in  March,  1886, 
the  Toledo  Collegian  was  established  as  the  official  organ 
of  the  College.  It  was  a  quarterly  publication  and  con- 
tained College  news  and  announcements,  with  more  or 
less  of  the  literary  output  of  the  College.  It  continued 
to  be  published  until  the  crisis  of  1893. 

The  next  attempt  to  establish  a  College  newspaper  was 
a  new  departure  in  the  fact  that  the  enterprise  was  con- 
ceived and  carried  out  wholly  by  a  group  of  students  as 
part  of  their  literary  society  activities.  In  April,  1896, 
appeared  the  first  number  of  the  College  Era,  a  monthly 
pamphlet  published  by  the  Philophronean  Literary 
Society  and  devoted  to  general  College  news,  as  well  as  the 
interests  of  the  society  in  whose  name  it  was  published. 
It  continued  to  be  published  until  1902,  and  then,  at  the 
solicitation  of  the  other  literary  societies  of  the  College, 
all  were  admitted  to  a  share  in  the  management  of  the 
paper,  and  the  name  was  changed  to  Western  Cardinal. 
Under  the  new  name  the  paper  was  published  for  about 
two  years  and  then  ceased.  A  year  or  two  later  the 
Philophronean  Society  again  began  issuing  a  paper,  this 
time  as  the  Leander  Clark  Era,  a  weekly,  giving  special 
prominence  to  College  news.  The  paper  is  still  published 
each  week  of  the  school  year. 

About  the  time  that  the  Era  was  reestablished  the 
Young  Men's  Institute  began  publishing  the  Ozvl,  a 
bi-monthly  combining  the  news  idea  with  a  more  distinctly 
literary  purpose.     The  Owl  and  the  Era,  edited  and  pub- 

335 


Western — Leander-Clark  Collegr 

lished  wholly  by  students,  reflect  student  sentiment  and 
record  the  numerous  happenings  in  connection  with  the 
various  student  activities  of  the  College. 

With  the  securing  of  the  endowment,  in  January,  1906, 
the  College  began  the  publication  of  the  Bulletin,  a  quar- 
terly devoted  to  official  news  and  announcements.  The 
April  number  each  year  comprises  the  annual  catalogue. 
The  Bulletin  is  the  systematic  means  of  communication 
between  the  College  and  its  constituency.  Through  it  an 
effort  is  made  to  keep  in  constant  touch  with  alumni,  old 
students,  ministers  in  the  cooperating  territory,  and 
friends  of  the  College. 

The  latest,  and  in  point  of  elegance  and  mechanical 
finish,  the  most  pretentious  of  the  publications  connected 
with  the  College,  is  the  Cardinal,  the  annual  edited  and 
published  by  the  Junior  Class  in  the  spring  of  each  year. 
The  first  attempt  to  start  a  Junior  Annual  was  the  West- 
ern Breeze,  issued  in  1903  by  the  class  of  '04.  The  Breeze 
created  quite  a  stir,  yet  no  other  annual  was  undertaken 
until  the  Cardinal  was  launched  permanently  in  1909. 
The  Cardinal  is  a  volume  of  more  than  two  hundred 
pages,  splendidly  bound  and  lettered  in  gold,  printed  on 
the  best  of  paper,  and  copiously  illustrated  with  almost 
two  hundred  half-tone  cuts,  the  very  acme  of  the  printer's 
art.  The  aim  of  the  volume  is  to  give  a  resume  of  the 
doings  of  the  entire  institution  for  the  year.  Wit,  humor, 
history,  prophesy,  song,  and  story,  beautifully  illustrated 
throughout,  combine  to  make  the  Cardinal  the  brightest 
and  most  sought-after  publication  sent  out  by  the  College. 

COLLEGE  ORGANIZATIONS. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  and  Executive  Committee,  con- 
stituting the  necessary  and  permanent  representatives  of 

336 


A  Chapter  of  Miscellany 

the  corporate  body,  were,  or  course,  organized  at  the  very 
first,  even  in  fact  before  the  College  could  be  brought  into 
existence.  The  first  organization  within  the  College  was 
the  Theological  Association,  which,  with  an  enrollment  of 
forty  members,  flourished  greatly  during  the  first  few 
years  of  the  College.  The  purpose  of  the  association  was 
partly  literary  and  partly  theological.  It  met  regularly 
and  rendered  formal  programs,  mainly  on  moral  and 
religious  subjects. 

Societies  for  distinctly  literary  training  were  early  or- 
ganized, but  owing  partly  to  the  fact  that  the  school  was 
still  in  the  experimental  stage  and  feeling  its  way,  and 
partly  to  the  fact  that  the  societies,  for  years,  having  no 
halls  of  their  own,  were  compelled  to  meet  in  ordinary 
recitation  rooms,  the  organizations  were  at  first  naturally 
somewhat  unstable.  The  oldest  permanent  literary  so- 
ciety in  the  institution  is  the  Young  Men's  Institute,  or- 
ganized in  1857.  Its  long  history  is  a  record  of  creditable 
achievement.  At  present  it  occupies  a  large  artistically 
decorated  hall,  elegantly  refurnished  in  1906.  The  Phil- 
adelphian  Society  flourished  in  the  early  days  of  the 
school,  but  was  dissolved  in  the  early  part  of  1860.  Some 
three  years  later  the  Nestorian  was  formed,  but  it  was 
short-lived.  Some  time  afterward  came  the  Irving  In- 
stitute, changed,  in  1869,  to  the  present  Philophronean 
Society ;  the  change  of  name  was  made  when  the  attempt 
to  incorporate  under  the  laws  of  the  State  revealed  the 
fact  that  there  was  already  an  Irving  Institute  incorpor- 
ated in  the  State.  The  society  has  continued  to  the 
present  day  an  energetic  force  in  the  literary  and  social 
life  of  the  College.  The  Philo  hall  is  a  large,  commo- 
dious room,  finished  in  California  redwood,  elegantly  fur- 
nished, well  lighted  and  ventilated.      The  second  oldest 

337 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

society  is  the  Calliopean,  a  society  for  young  women.  It 
was  founded  in  1859,  but  had  a  rather  precarious  exist- 
ence until  1867,  at  which  time  the  society  was  thoroughly 
reorganized  under  the  guidance  of  Miss  Emma  Guitner, 
then  a  teacher  in  the  College.  Since  then  the  society  has 
been  active  and  prosperous ;  it  cultivates  musical  as  well 
as  literary  taste.  Since  1889  the  society  has  occupied  its 
own  hall,  spacious  and  beautifully  furnished.  A  second 
society  for  young  women,  the  Young  Ladies'  Athenaeum, 
was  organized  in  May,  1880.  It  has  been  prosperous 
from  the  beginning;  emphasis  is  laid  upon  literary  work. 
Its  large,  well  furnished  hall  is  comfortably  located  in  the 
southwest  corner  of  the  Administration  Building.  Within 
the  College  year  1896-7  there  was  organized  from  each 
of  the  two  men's  societies  a  new  society  composed  of  such 
present  and  future  members  as  had  not  reached  fresh- 
man rank  in  the  College.  The  preparatory  society  thus 
formed  from  the  Philophronean  was  the  Alphanean  Soci- 
ety; that  from  the  Young  Men's  Institute  was  called  the 
Cyclomathean  Society.  For  a  few  years  they  maintained 
separate  organizations  and  met  on  separate  evenings,  the 
College  societies  on  Friday  evenings  and  the  preparatory 
societies  on  Thursday  evenings.  For  some  years,  how- 
ever, Philophroneans  and  Alphaneans,  on  the  one  hand, 
and  Young  Men's  Institute  and  Cyclomatheans,  on  the 
other,  have  been  meeting  and  conducting  their  affairs 
jointly  as  if  no  separation  had  occurred. 

The  graduates  of  only  two  departments  of  the  College 
maintain  permanent  organizations ;  these  are  the  Col- 
lege of  Liberal  Arts  and  the  Conservatory  of  Music.  The 
Alumni  Association  was  organized  temporarily  in  1870, 
permanently  in  1874.  The  membership  consists  of  grad- 
uates from  the  College  of  Liberal  Arts,  and  now  numbers 

338 


A  Chapter  of  Miscellany 

351.  The  annual  business  meeting  of  the  association 
occurs  on  the  day  preceding  commencement,  and  is  fol- 
lowed by  the  anniversary  and  banquet.  As  the  years  pass 
the  alumni  are  proving  increasingly  helpful  to  the  work 
of  the  College.  The  Association  was  first  given  repre- 
sentation on  the  Board  of  Trustees  in  1875 ;  it  is  now 
entitled  to  six  representatives  on  the  Board.  The  Con- 
servatory Alumnal  Association  was  first  organized  in 
1889  and  reorganized  in  June,  1906.  It  consists  of  grad- 
uates of  the  Conservatory  of  Music.  Its  purpose  is  to 
promote  and  perpetuate  friendship  among  its  members 
and  to  enlarge  the  work  and  efficiency  of  the  Conser- 
vatory. 

A  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  was  organized  in 
Western  College  in  the  fall  of  1881.  Mr.  L.  D.  Wishard 
was  then  visiting  the  colleges  of  Iowa  and  organizing 
associations  wherever  he  could  arouse  sufficient  interest. 
Western  took  hold  of  the  movement  with  zeal.  At  first 
there  seems  to  have  been  no  separate  organization  for 
young  women ;  the  officers  of  the  first  association  were : 
President,  T.  H.  Studebaker;  secretary,  Miss  Middle- 
kauff.  Not  long  after  a  Young  Woman's  Christian  Asso- 
ciation was  formed,  and  both  societies  have  continued  to 
this  day  active  and  earnest,  the  center  of  the  religious  life 
of  the  College.  Both  maintain  weekly  devotional  meet- 
ings and  classes  for  Bible  and  mission  study.  Delegates 
are  sent  annually  to  the  State  Convention  and  heavy  con- 
tributions are  made  toward  the  support  of  the  State  work. 
During  recent  years  the  associations  have  sent  chosen 
representatives  to  the  summer  conference  of  Christian 
workers  at  Lake  Geneva.  A  Volunteer  Band  as  part 
of  the  general  Student  Volunteer  Movement  for  Foreign 
Missions  was  organized  about  1889.     It  is  made  up  of 

339 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

members  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  and  Y.  W.  C.  A.  who  have 
the  avowed  purpose,  if  God  permit,  of  becoming  foreign 
missionaries.  Meetings  are  held  once  a  week  to  deepen 
spiritual  life  and  to  study  missionary  problems. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  College  there  was  no  thought 
of  a  general  organization  to  direct  the  athletic  activities 
of  the  institution.  Perhaps  the  first  effective  move  in 
that  direction  was  in  the  later  eighties  when  the  Y.  M. 
C.  A.  was  given  control  of  the  athletic  grounds  and  in 
large  measure  of  College  sports  also.  Soon  afterward  a 
student  organization  was  formed  and  it  controlled  ath- 
letics for  many  years.  This  organization  was  reorganized 
from  time  to  time,  its  scope  of  influence  enlarged,  and 
its  membership  increased  to  include  representatives  from 
the  faculty  and  from  the  alumni.  Lastly,  in  harmony 
with  the  general  practice  among  Iowa  colleges,  a  perma- 
nent athletic  committee,  composed  of  members  elected  by 
the  faculty  and  by  the  Alumni  Association,  has  general 
direction  of  all  athletic  activities  recognized  by  the  Col- 
lege. 

Even  in  the  early  days  the  College  had  an  Oratorical 
Association,  at  least  intermittently.  The  State  Oratorical 
Contest  was  naturally  the  great  inducement  for  maintain- 
ing a  local  association.  Consequently  during  the  years 
that  Western  did  not  hold  membership  in  the  State  Asso- 
ciation there  was  no  local  organization.  For  the  last  twelve 
or  fifteen  years  an  active  association  has  been  maintained, 
its  energies  being  directed  almost  wholly  toward  compe- 
tition in  the  State  Contest.  In  the  spring  of  1909  the 
Oratorical  Association  was  superseded  by  the  Forensic 
League,  a  larger  organization  comprising  the  whole  stu- 
dent body  and  the  faculty.  The  league  promotes  all 
departments   of    forensic    endeavor — oratorical    contests, 

340 


A  Chapter  of  Miscellany 

both  State  and  local,  and  debates,  both  intercollegiate  and 
interacademic. 

TRANSPORTATION. 

One  of  the  strongest  arguments  in  favor  of  moving  the 
College  from  Western  was  based  upon  the  inadequacy  of 
transportation  facilities.  For  a  number  of  years,  after 
the  College  was  planted  on  the  prairie,  the  quickest  com- 
munication with  the  outside  world  was  by  stage  coach  to 
Cedar  Rapids  some  eight  miles  away.  The  stage  made 
one  trip  a  day  and  under  favorable  conditions  required 
two  or  three  hours  for  the  journey.  When  the  way  was 
blocked  with  snow  drifts,  or  when  the  bottom  fell  out 
of  the  roads  during  the  spring  thaws,  the  journey  became 
impossible.  Later,  when  a  railroad  came  within  three 
miles  of  Western,  the  transportation  problem  was  some- 
what easier,  but  was  still  far  from  being  solved.  Three 
miles  overland  is  not  a  very  serious  matter  in  good 
weather,  but  is  quite  serious  under  the  worst  conditions. 
When  the  College  first  came  to  Toledo  the  Northwestern 
had  just  completed  its  branch  road  from  Tama  through 
Toledo  and  was  running  one  train  a  day  each  way.  This 
was  better  than  entire  dependence  on  the  hack  line  at  old 
Western,  but  was  far  from  being  adequate.  The  main 
lines  of  the  Northwestern  and  of  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee 
&  St.  Paul  railroads  passed  through  Tama  two  and  a  half 
miles  from  the  College.  In  order  to  reach  most  of  the 
important  trains  on  these  roads  it  was  for  years  necessary 
to  make  the  trip  to  Tama  by  the  hack.  The  road  between 
Toledo  and  Tama  seemed  specially  devised  to  ruin  the 
temper  of  a  hack  driver  and  crush  the  hopes  of  pas- 
sengers ;  there  were  numerous  lodging  places  for  impass- 
able snow  drifts  in  winter  and  there  were  bottomless 

341 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

ravines  in  spring  time.  Old  students  remember  with 
painful  vividness  some  of  those  overland  trips  and  the 
disappointment  of  arriving  twenty  minutes  too  late — if 
fortunate  enough  to  arrive  at  all ;  they  will  remember 
with  some  compensation  of  amusement  the  familiar  and 
striking  figure  of  the  driver,  Mike  Boyle,  and  the  volley 
of  picturesque  and  effective  language  he  turned  loose  on 
every  suitable  occasion.  Not  until  the  completion  of  the 
Tama  and  Toledo  Electric  Railway,  in  1894,  was  the 
College  made  really  accessible  to  its  distant  constituency. 
Now  with  four  or  more  trains  daily  on  the  branch  line 
through  town,  and  two  great  main  lines  with  superb  and 
frequent  service  only  two  and  a  half  miles  away,  and 
that  distance  covered  in  ten  minutes  by  electric  cars  pass- 
ing every  forty  minutes  within  one  block  of  the  campus, 
transportation  facilities  are  much  like  those  of  a  city 
suburb. 

MISSIONARIES. 

Perhaps  the  earliest  missionary  influence  among  the 
students  of  Western  College  emanated  from  Miss  Hester 
A.  Hillis.  Miss  Hillis  left  her  position  in  the  College  in 
1867  to  take  up  mission  work  in  Ceylon ;  on  her  return, 
some  twelve  years  later,  she  lectured  on  missions  in  a 
certain  United  Brethren  Church,  and  afterwards  solicited 
Austia  Patterson  to  return  with  her  as  a  foreign  mission- 
ary. That  was  the  beginning  of  the  influence  that  made 
Austia  Patterson  a  foreign  missionary,  and  that  incident- 
ally opened  the  mission  work  of  the  Church  later  in 
China.  The  first  missionary  awakening  that  came  to  the 
whole  student  community  resulted  from  a  visit  of  Rev.  J. 
Gomer,  pioneer  missionary  of  the  Church  in  Africa. 
Though  missionary  zeal  among  the  students  was  greatly 

342 


A  Chapter  of  Miscellany 

quickened  by  the  addresses  of  Brother  Gomer  and  Doctor 
Flickinger,  zeal  was  not  crystalized  into  personal  action 
until  some  years  after  the  school  was  established  at 
Toledo.  In  the  later  eighties,  John  R.  Mott  paid  a  visit 
to  the  College  and  aroused  interest  to  such  a  degree  that 
the  students  resolved  to  support  a  foreign  missionary. 
They  asked  the  Woman's  Board  to  cooperate,  selected 
Austia  Patterson  to  be  their  representative,  and  suggested 
China,  India,  or  Japan  as  a  field  of  operations.  She 
accepted,  chose  China  as  her  field,  and  has  been  identified 
with  the  mission  work  of  the  Church  among  the  Chinese 
directly  or  indirectly  ever  since.  About  the  same  time, 
Miss  Halverson,  formerly  a  student  in  Western  College, 
took  up  mission  work  in  China.  She  served  a  few  years 
as  a  missionary  and  then  married  a  Chinaman,  perhaps  to 
exert  a  greater  influence  in  bringing  up  her  three  children 
in  an  atmosphere  of  Christian  ideals.  Western  College 
has  sent  numerous  recruits  for  the  work  in  China,  both 
that  of  the  United  Brethren  Church  in  and  near  Canton, 
and  that  of  other  churches  in  other  parts  of  the  Empire. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  B.  Ward  went  out  in  1897  and  have  been 
in  the  work  since,  except  necessary  furloughs  at  home. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  E.  Fix  joined  the  Canton  workers  in 
1893  for  two  years,  returning  only  on  account  of  Mrs. 
Fix's  health.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  I."  Doty  went  in  1903  for 
five  years  of  service.  Mr.  J.  R.  Trindle  went  in  1901 
as  private  tutor  in  the  family  of  the  statesman,  Hi  Lung 
Chang;  later  he  entered  the  mission  work  of  the  Metho- 
dist Church  in  Northern  China,  in  which  work  he  was 
joined  by  Miss  Josie  Newland,  who  was  married  to  Mr. 
Trindle  on  her  arrival  in  China.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Trindle 
recently  spent  a  year  in  America  on  furlough,  returning 

343 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

to  China  in  the  autumn  of  1910.  Mr.  Frank  Field  went 
to  China  about  1903,  under  direction  of  the  Presbyterian 
Board ;  at  the  present  writing  he  is  still  at  his  post  as 
Principal  of  the  Tsining  Boys'  School,  Shantung,  China. 
It  happened  that  the  first  missionaries  sent  by  Western 
College  went  to  China,  and  further  that  the  total  sent  to 
China — eight  who  were  graduates  at  the  time  of  their 
going  and  four  who  had  been  students  for  considerable 
periods — was  greater  than  that  sent  to  any  other  field ; 
yet  Africa,  partly  because  its  mission  work  was  older,  and 
hence  better  known  in  earlier  days,  and  partly  because  of 
the  martyr  blood  furnished  by  the  College  for  that  field, 
has  claimed  even  more  of  serious  concern  and  heart-felt 
interest  from  students  and  authorities.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
I.  N.  Cain  were  the  first  to  go  directly  from  the  College  to 
Africa.  They  went  out  in  1892  and  stayed  a  four-year 
term;  then,  after  a  year  in  America,  during  which  time 
they  completed  an  advanced  course  in  the  College,  they 
returned  to  Africa,  and  the  next  spring,  together  with 
other  martyr  missionaries,  fell  in  the  awful  uprising  of 
natives,  May  3,  1898.  With  the  Cains  on  that  fatal  day 
was  Dr.  Mary  Archer,  formerly  a  student  at  Western. 
Mr.  A.  A.  Ward,  also  a  student  and  later  a  graduate, 
escaped  the  fate  of  that  dreadful  day  by  mere  chance  of 
having  been  sent  to  Freetown  for  supplies,  the  only  one 
of  the  seven  missionaries  stationed  at  Rotifunk  not  called 
upon  to  give  his  blood  for  the  redemption  of  Africa.  Of 
those  who,  after  the  massacre,  went  to  build  again  upon 
the  ruins,  Mr.  E.  E.  Todd  was  first  on  the  field ;  he  has 
passed  on  to  his  reward.  Miss  Rilla  Aikin  went  a  little 
later,  served  her  term,  and  came  home  to  regain  her 
health;  she  is.  now  the  wife  of  Rev.  H.  D.  Southard. 

344 


A  Chapter  of  Miscellany 

Miss  Angie  Aikin  went  to  1904,  served  one  term,  and, 
after  a  short  furlough,  is  completing  her  second  term  in 
Africa.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  T.  Miller  went  over  in  1905, 
he  to  take  charge  of  the  industrial  work  at  Rotifunk,  she 
to  teach  in  the  mission  school ;  they  finished  one  term  of 
service,  and  after  but  a  few  months'  furlough  returned  to 
take  charge  of  the  industrial  school  at  Shenge. 

A  later  field  for  mission  work  was  found  after  the 
Spanish- American  War.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  P.  W.  Drury 
have  taken  a  leading  part  in  the  mission  work  undertaken 
by  the  Church  in  Porto  Rico.  They  went  out  first  in 
1901  and  are  still  at  work,  having  taken  only  short  inter- 
vals for  needed  recuperation. 

In  another  department  of  missionary  endeavor,  that  of 
education  in  foreign  lands,  students  of  Western  have 
taken  an  honorable  part.  Mr.  W.  M.  Zumbro  was  ap- 
pointed by  the  American  Board  as  Missionary  to  the 
Madura  Field  in  1894,  and,  with  the  exception  of  one 
year  on  furlough,  has  since  been  teacher  in  the  Mission 
College  of  Madura,  and  is  now  president  of  the  institu- 
tion. Mr.  A.  A.  Ward  served  two  years  under  the  Amer- 
ican Board  as  teacher  in  Jaffua  College,  Ceylon;  he  is 
now  engaged  in  educational  work  under  the  same  Board 
in  Tellippalai,  Ceylon. 

If  we  add  to  the  above  list  the  names  of  Miss  Anna 
Fulcomer,  who  lost  her  life  while  a  missionary  among 
the  Indians  in  Alaska,  and  Miss  Grace  Holstead,  who  for 
a  time  was  missionary  among  the  Sac  and  Fox  Indians  in 
Iowa,  and  the  large  number  who  have  been  home  mission- 
aries, it  will  be  seen  that  Western-Leander  Clark  College 
has  not  been  disobedient  to  the  command  to  preach  the 
gospel  to  every  creature. 

345 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

MATERIAL  EQUIPMENT. 

As  has  been  the  case  with  practically  all  denominational 
colleges,  Western  began  with  the  most  meager  and 
primitive  equipment.  Land  was  cheap  and  consequently 
supplied  the  most  abundant  part  of  the  early  material 
equipment.  The  original  campus  contained  seventeen 
acres ;  in  addition  the  College  owned  the  town  site,  besides 
a  farm,  a  timber  tract,  and  other  lands.  In  all  the  days 
at  old  Western,  the  College  succeeded  in  erecting  three 
buildings — a  large,  plain  brick  building  for  school  pur- 
poses and  two  frame  buildings  of  moderate  proportions 
intended  for  dormitories.  All  the  buildings  were  heated 
with  wood  stoves  and  lighted — if  at  all — with  kerosene 
lamps.  Scientific  equipment  and  library  were  almost 
wholly  wanting  for  many  years.  When  Professor  I.  L. 
Kephart  came,  in  1871,  as  teacher  of  science,  he  went 
before  the  Board  with  an  urgent  plea  for  scientific  appa- 
ratus and  was  authorized  to  spend  fifty  dollars  for  such 
equipment.  About  the  same  time  books  enough  were 
secured  to  justify  the  appointment  of  a  librarian.  In 
the  most  flourishing  days  at  Western  the  entire  plant 
was  valued  at  about  thirty  thousand  dollars  ;  when  the  col- 
lege was  removed  the  non-portable  property  was  sold  for 
about  three  thousand. 

At  Toledo  all  plans — except  regarding  land — were  laid 
out  on  a  much  larger  scale.  The  first  building  was  not 
only  large  and  admirably  suited  to  its  purposes,  but  also 
dignified  and  beautiful  in  architectural  design  and  fitting 
ornamentation,  one  of  the  best  college  buildings  of  its 
day  in  Iowa.  Equipment,  however,  was  still  compara- 
tively meager.  The  main  building  was  heated  with  stoves 
until  the  time  of  the  fire,  in  1889;  before  the  fire  a 
respectable  chemical  laboratory,  a  fair  library,  and  a  supe- 

346 


A  Chapter  of  Miscellany 

rior  museum  had  been  secured.  These,  except  the  larger 
portion  of  the  library,  were  totally  destroyed  by  the  fire. 
The  building  erected  after  the  fire  was  equipped  much 
more  nearly  in  modern  style.  Improvements  and  addi- 
tions have  been  made  from  time  to  time,  until  now  all 
the  College  buildings  have  modern  heating  and  electric 
lights,  and  the  laboratories  are  equipped  much  more  com- 
pletely than  is  usually  found  in  the  smaller  denomina- 
tional colleges. 

The  College  now  owns  five  buildings,  which,  with  their 
equipment  and  grounds,  could  not  be  duplicated  for 
$135,000.  It  possesses  a  cash  endowment  of  $150,000, 
and  has  recently  come  into  possession  of  a  bequest 
amounting  to  $5,000.  In  addition,  it  owns  a  320-acre 
farm  in  South  Dakota  worth  easily  $20,000. 

The  campus,  located  in  the  southern  part  of  Toledo,  is 
a  beautiful  plat  of  sixteen  acres  with  a  fine  park  of 
young  oaks  on  the  eastern  side.  It  embraces  also  a  fine 
athletic  field,  with  abundant  room  for  all  outdoor  sports. 

The  Administration  Building  is  a  large,  brick  structure 
well  located,  heated  with  hot  water,  with  seven  large 
recitation-rooms,  three  laboratories,  four  elegant  literary 
society  halls,  library,  museum,  chapel,  Christian  Asso- 
ciation room,  offices,  and  other  rooms,  making  in  all 
twenty-six  rooms.  Both  as  to  exterior  appearance  and 
internal  arrangement,  the  building  is  well  adapted  to  its 
purpose. 

Mary  Beatty  Hall  is  a  three-story  brick  structure, 
located  near  the  main  building,  heated  by  steam,  with 
ten  large,  neatly-furnished  rooms  for  ladies,  parlor,  living 
rooms  for  superintendent's  family,  kitchen,  and  dining 
room.  It  furnishes  a  pleasant  and  convenient  home  for 
voung  women. 

347 


Western — Leander-Ctark  College 

The  Athletic  Building,  a  frame  structure  forty-two  by 
eighty-four  feet  in  size,  lighted  by  electricity,  with  an 
elegant  court  for  indoor  games,  and  seats  for  three  hun- 
dred people,  is  located  on  the  north  side  of  the  campus. 

Bright  Conservatory  of  Music,  including  Philips  Music 
Hall,  is  located  in  the  central  part  of  the  town.  It  has 
nine  rooms  for  practice  and  teaching,  is  equipped  with 
necessary  pianos,  and  provides  a  large  hall  for  recitals 
and  other  public  entertainments.  The  large  organ  in  the 
United  Brethren  Church  is  used  for  giving  lessons  on  the 
pipe  organ. 

Drury  Hall,  the  gift  of  Rev.  M.  S.  Drury,  has  been 
remodeled  and  fitted  up  as  a  home  for  the  president  of 
the  College.  It  is  located  on  College  Avenue,  half  a 
square  from  the  College  campus. 

In  laboratory  and  library  facilities  the  College  is  espe- 
cially fortunate.  The  chemical,  physical,  and  biological 
laboratories  have  been  almost  wholly  refurnished  and 
supplied  with  up-to-date  equipment  within  the  last  few 
years.  The  biological  laboratory  is  supplied  with  micro- 
scopes, microtomes,  ovens,  baths,  charts,  models,  and 
biological  material.  The  physical  laboratory  is  supplied 
with  electrical  apparatus,  air  pumps,  delicate  balances, 
and  all  the  usual  physical  equipment.  The  chemical 
laboratory  is  provided  with  desks,  test  tubes,  individual 
sets  of  reagents,  etc.  An  acetylene  gas  plant  supplies 
fuel  for  experiments.  Investigations  are  carried  on  both 
in  general  and  organic  chemistry. 

These  material  equipments  are  very  good  so  far  as 
they  go ;  they  are,  however,  inadequate  to  meet  the  de- 
mands even  of  the  present  and  are  growing  more  inade- 
quate every  day  for  the  greater  demands  of  the  future. 
A  modern  college  must  be  up  and  doing  if  it  is  to  fulfill 
its  mission.  343 


APPENDIX 


REGISTER 

OF 

OFFICERS,  FACULTY,  AND  ALUMNI 


349 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 


CORPORATION 


OFFICERS  OF  THE  BOARD  OF  TRUSTEES. 

Presidents. 

Rev.  Solomon  Weaver,  1855-1864;  Dr.  W.  B.  Wagner. 
1864-1868;  Rev.  E.  B.  Kephart,  1868-1881;  Rev.  George  Miller. 
1881-1902,  1904—....;  Major  Leander  Clark,  1902-1904. 

Secretaries. 

Rev.  Martin  G.  Miller,  1855-1857;  Rev.  Joseph  Wickard. 
1857-1862;  Mr.  John  W.  Henderson,  1862-1865;  Rev.  L.  S. 
Grove,  1865-1866;  Mr.  W.  O.  Beam,  1866-1868;  Mr.  A.  H. 
Neidig,  1868-1872;  Mr.  Henry  Sheak,  1872-1873;  Mr.  E.  R. 
Hastings,  1873-1877;  Rev.  W.  I.  Beatty,  1877-1880;  Rev.  T.  D. 
Adams,  1880-1882;  Rev.  L.  H.  Bufkin,  1882-1883;  Prof  A.  M. 
Beal,  1883-1888;  Rev.  L.  B.  Hicks,  1888-1894,  1900-1903;  Mr. 
W.  A.  Smith,  1894-1897;  Mr.  Daniel  Reamer,  1897-1900;  Mr. 
W.  C.  Smith,  1903-1907;  Prof.  J.  E.  Maxwell,  1907-1909;  Prof. 
C.  R.  Shatto,  1910- 

Treasurers. 

Rev.  Daniel  Runkle,  1855-1856;  Capt.  W.  H.  Shuey,  1856- 
1858;  Rev.  Solomon  Weaver,  1858-1859;  Rev.  J.  Manning, 
1859-1862;  Prof.  M.  W.  Bartlett,  1862-1867;  Mr.  Adam  Perry, 
1867-1869;  Prof.  William  Langham,  1869-1870;  Miss  E.  M. 
Guitner,  1870-1871;  Rev.  Lewis  Bookwalter,  1871-1873,  1876- 
1877;  Prof.  I.  L.  Kephart,  1873-1876;  Mr.  W.  J.  Ham,  1877- 
1878;  Rev.  M.  S.  Drury,  1878-1883;  Rev.  L.  H.  Bufkin,  1883- 
1887,  1888-1891;  Mr.  C.  L.  Mundhenk,  1887-1888;  Prof.  E.  F. 
Warren,  1891-1892;  Rev.  T.  D.  Adams,  1892-1894;  Mr.  S.  R. 
Lichtenwalter,  1894-1902;  Mr.  J.  N.  Lichty,  1902- 

Business  Managers. 

Rev.  Solomon  Weaver,  1856-1859;  Mr.  W.  J.  Ham,  1876- 
1878;  Rev.  M.  S.  Drury,  1878-1883;  Rev.  L.  H.  Bufkin,  1883- 
1891;  Prof.  E.  F.  Warren,  1891-1892;  Rev.  T.  D.  Adams,  1892- 
1894;  Rev.  Daniel  Miller,  1894-1895. 

Field  Secretaries. 

Rev.  J.  Wickard,  1856-1859;  Rev.  R.  Logan,  1856-1857; 
Rev.  J.  Manning,  1857-1863;  Rev.  A.  A.  Sellers,  1860-1863; 
Rev.  J.  Gooden,  1864-1867;  Rev.  J.  Y.  Jones,  1867-1868;  Mr. 
Dennis  Gray,  1867-1878;  Rev.  W.  S.  DeMoss.  1871-1874:  Rev. 

350 


Appendix 

M.  Fulcomer,  1870-1872;  Rev.  L.  Bookwalter,  1872-1873;  Rev. 
I.  L.  Buchwalter,  1873-1875;  Rev.  L.  H.  Bufkin,  1880-1883, 
1891-1894;  Rev.  M.  S.  Drury,  1883-1884,  1887-1892,  1893-1894; 
Rev.  A.  M.  Leichliter,  1884-1887;  Rev.  L.  B.  Hix,  1885-1887; 
Rev.  H.  H.  Maynard,  1887-1891;  Rev.  N.  F.  Hicks,  1899-1902, 
1903-1904;  Rev.  C.  E.  Foster,  1902-1903;  Rev.  R.  E.  Graves, 
1905-1908;  Rev.  O.  G.  Mason,  1909-11. 

Endowment  Secretaries. 

Hon.  E.  C.  Ebersole,  1906-1910;  Hon.  H.  J.  Stiger, 
1910- 

Financial  Secretary. 
Rev.  G.  E.  Chapman,  1907- 

Librarians. 

I.  L.  Kephart,  1874-1876;  W.  J.  Ham,  1876-1877;  Byron 
O.  White,  1877-1878;  W.  I.  Beatty,  1878-1880;  J.  W.  Robert- 
son, 1880-1881;  A.  M.  Beal,  1881-1884;  I.  A.  Loos,  1884-1889; 
E.  F.  Warren,  1889-1892;  Mark  Masters,  1892-1893;  Belle 
Schelling,  1893-1894;  D.  D.  Zilm,  1894-1896;  A.  O.  Jones,  1896- 
1897;  W.  L.  Zimmerman,  1897-1898;  H.  C.  Parsons,  1898- 
1899;  H.  W.  Ward,  1899-1904;  E.  O.  Fiske,  1904-1905;  W.  L. 
Verry,   1905- 

TRUSTEES. 
Iowa  Conference. 
Rev.  Solomon  Weaver,  1855-1864;  Rev.  Daniel  I.  Runkle, 
1855-1871;  Mr.  Jonathan  Neidig,  1855-1858;  Rev.  Martin  G. 
Miller,  1867-1870;  Rev.  Joseph  Miller,  1855-1856;  Rev.  J.  E. 
Bowersox,  1856;  Capt.  W.  H.  Shuey,  1856-1858;  Rev.  John 
Gooden,  1857-1866;  Rev.  Joseph  Wickard,  1857-1863;  Rev. 
W.  W.  Richardson,  continued  North  Iowa,  1862-1863;  Rev. 
Martin  Bowman,  1862-1881;  Rev.  W.  M.  Stiles,  1864-1866; 
Mr.  John  W.  Henderson,  1865;  Dr.  William  B.  Wagner,  1866- 
1868;  Mr.  G.  S.  Mason,  1867-1868;  Mr.  John  Kurtz,  1867; 
Rev.  J.  G.  Stewart,  1869;  Mr.  Richards,  1869;  Mr.  A.  H. 
Neidig,  1869;  Rev.  J.  H.  Vandever,  1870-1874;  Mr.  John 
Dorcas,  1871-1877;  Rev.  P.  Leonard,  1871-1872;  Rev.  M.  S. 
Drury,  formerly  North  Iowa,  1874-1889;  Rev.  William  Davis, 
1871-1874;  Mr.  C.  Neidig,  1873-1883;  Mr.  Solomon  Lichten- 
walter,  1874-1884;  Rev.  D.  Wenrick,  1878-1884;  Mr.  R.  M. 
Baker,  1884-1893;  Rev.  T.  D.  Adams,  formerly  West  Des 
Moines,  1884-1893;  Rev.  W.  I.  Beatty,  1884-1905;  Rev.  Daniel 
Miller,  formerly  East  Des  Moines,  1890-1895;  Rev.  L.  B.  Hix, 
1893-1902;  Rev.  M.  R.  Drury,  1895-1904;  Mr.  D.  H.  Kurtz, 
1904-1909;  Mr.  W.  H.  Trussell,  1904-1909;  Mr.  Oliver  Hender- 
son, 1906-1907:  Mr.  John  W.  Beatty,  1907-1909. 

351 


Western — Leander-Clark  College 

North  Iowa  Conference. 

Rev.  W.  W.  Richardson,  formerly  Iowa,  1864-1871;  Mr. 
Isaac  Shafer,  1864-1865;  Rev.  D.  Wenrick,  1864-1866;  Mr. 
E.  D.  Ash,  1864-1868;  Rev.  M.  S.  Drury,  continued  Iowa, 
1866-1874;  Mr.  E.  Fothergill,  1867-1871;  Mr.  J.  C.  Rock,  1871; 
Rev.  S.  B.  Stone,  1872-1874;  Rev.  D.  M.  Harvey,  1872-1874; 
Rev.  William  Moore,  1872;  Rev.  R.  D.  McCormick,  1873- 
1874;  Rev.  S.  George,  1873-1874. 

Des  Moines   Conference. 

Rev.  J.  Hopkins,  1856;  Rev.  C.  Witt,  1856;  Rev.  J.  Man- 
ning, 1858-1866;  Rev.  W.  S.  DeMoss,  continued  East  Des 
Moines,  1858-1863. 

East  Des  Moines  Conference. 
Rev.  A.  Sellers,  1862-1865;  Rev.  A.  A.  Corson,  1862-1864; 
Rev.  W.  II.  Mitchell,  1862-1866;  Rev.  L.  S.  Grove,  1864-1871; 
Rev.  C.  B.  Davis,  1865-1871;  Rev.  William  M.  Davis,  1865- 
1871;  Mr.  Ransom,  1866-1868;  J.  H.  McVey,  1867;  P.  Wheeler, 
1867;  Rev.  W.  S.  DeMoss,  formerly  Des  Moines,  1871-1877; 
Mr.  John  Stone,  1871-1884;  Rev.  W.  McKee,  1872-1874;  Rev. 
P.  Smith,  1873-1875;  Rev.  A.  Stewart,  1872-1874;  Rev.  M.  D. 
Murdoch,  1875-1876;  Rev.  T.  W.  Eckles,  1875-1879;  Mr.  N. 
Stewart,  1876-1881;  Rev.  *M.  Faivre,  1877-1878;  Rev.  R. 
Thresher,  1878-1884;  Mr.  J.  B.  L.  Hendrix,  1879-1883;  Rev. 
Daniel  Miller,  continued  Iowa,  1880-1884,  1887-1889;  Rev. 
A.  L.  Palmer,  1882-1884;  Rev.  A.  Schwimley,  1884-1898;  Rev. 
H.  D.  Bonebrake,  1885-1886;  Mr.  Isaiah  Speaker,  1885-1889. 

West  Des  Moines  Conference. 
Rev.  J.  B.  Cass,  1862-1866;  Rev.  S.  Brooks,  1864-1865; 
Rev.  William  Jacob,  1871-1872;  Rev.  J.  Simpson,  continued 
Des  Moines,  1871-1889;  Rev.  Flaugh,  1871-1872;  Mr.  C.  B. 
Jones,  1871-1874;  Mr.  J.  E.  Ham,  1871-1874;  Rev.  T.  D. 
Adams,  later  Des  Moines,  1873-1877;  Mr.  Jacob  Gutshall, 
1873-1884;  Mr.  Levi  Crysher,  1875-1881;  Rev.  George  Miller, 
continued  Des  Moines,  1875-1889;  Rev.  L.  H.  Bufkin,  later 
Des  Moines,  1878-1884;  Mr.  Jacob  Brown,  1882;  Mr.  M.  H. 
Overholser,  1883-1884;  Mr.  Adam  Shambaugh,  later  Des 
Moines,  1885-1886;  Mr.  T.  I.  Forster,  1887-1889. 

Des  Moines  Conference. 
Rev.  J.  Simpson,  formerly  West  Des  Moines,  1890-1894; 
Rev.  George  Miller,  formerly  West  Des  Moines,  1889-1909; 
Rev.  L.  H.  Bufkin,  formerly  West  Des  Moines,  1895-1898; 
Mr.  A.  H.  Shambaugh,  formerly  West  Des  Moines,  1896-1909; 
Hon.  John  Shambaugh,  later  at  large,  1890-1895;  Rev.  G.  O. 
Porter,    1899-1900;    Rev.    C.    J.    Kephart,    1901-1903;    Mr.    C. 

352 


Appendix 

Osmundson,    1904-1907;    Mr.    E.    IT.    Jones,    1908-1909;    Mr 
B.  F.  Fantz,  1908-1909. 

Rock  River  Conference. 
Rev.  J.  K.  M.  Looker,  1864;  Rev.  I.  K.  Statton,  1868- 
1877;  Rev.  E.  P.  Pierce,  1870;  Rev.  Palmer,  1871;  Rev  J  T 
Hallowell,  1871;  Rev.  C.  Wendle,  1870-1871,  1889,  1891,  1893- 
1897;  Rev.  J.  H.  Grimm,  1871-1880;  Rev.  J.  Johnson,  1872" 
Mr.  J.  H.  Middlekauff,  1872-1878;  Mr.  Lewis  Kretsinger,  1872- 
1875,  1885-1887;  Rev.  J.  W.  Bard,  1873-1876;  Rev.  F  Riebel 
1876-1881;  Rev.  J.  M.  Chitty,  1877-1881;  Rev.  Parker  Hurless 
1878-1882;  Rev.  J.  G.  Dessinger,  1879-1880;  Rev.  N.  E.  Gard- 
ner, 1881-1884;  Rev.  W.  H.  Chandler,  1881-1884;  Rev.  W  S 
Hays,  1882-1884;  Mr.  D.  E.  Middlekauff,  1882-1884;  Rev  P. 
M.  France,  1883-1888;  Rev.  H.  D.  Healey,  1885-1894;  Mr. 
D.  C.  Overholser,  later  Northern  Illinois,  1888-1900;  Rev 
W.  M.  Weekley,  1892-1896;  Rev.  J.  Groff,  continued  Northern 
Illinois,  1897-1901;  Rev.  J.  W.  Boggess,  continued  Northern 
Illinois,  1898-1901;  Mr.  Alexander  Anderson,  continued  North- 
ern Illinois,  1901-1902. 

Minnesota  Conference. 
Rev.  I.  L.  Buchwalter,  1870-1872;  Rev.  J.  P.  Allaman 
1871-1873;  Rev.  J.  E.  Steiner,  1871;  Rev.  M.  L.  Tibbetts 
1871-1887,  1891-1897;  Rev.  D.  Reed,  1871;  Rev.  I.  N.  Nield, 
1871;  Rev.  J.  W.  Fulkerson,  1872-1875,  1886;  Rev.  Joel  Gates, 
1872-1881;  Rev.  A.  A.  Cady,  1872-1876;  Rev.  S.  D.  Kemmerer, 
1874-1885;  Mr.  C.  C.  Washburne,  1876-1881:  Mr.  E.  Wool- 
dridge,  1877-1881;  Rev.  G.  H.  Varce,  1882-1884,  1898-1902; 
Mr.  A.  E.  Greengo,  1882-1884;  Mr.  C.  F.  Smith,  1882-1884; 
Dr.  H.  H.  Wilson,  1885,  1887-1892;  Rev.  E.  J.  Reed,  1886- 
1892,  1907-1909;  Rev.  U.  A.  Cook,  1888,  1897-1902;  Rev.  W.  C. 
Bacon,  1889-1890,  1893-1896;  Rev.  D.  C.  Talbot,  continued 
from  Wisconsin,  1893-1897;  Mr.  William  O.  Haney,  1898- 
1907;  Mr.  G  L.  Conrad,  1903-1905;  Rev.  W.  W.  Vine,  1903- 
1906;  Mr.  Isaac  F.  Sarff,  1906-..  . . ;  Mr.  A.  F.  Zosel,  1908-..  . . 

Wisconsin  Conference. 
Rev.  G.  G.  Nickey,  1871-1875,  1884;  Rev.  S.  Sutton,  1871- 
1872;  Rev.  S.  L.  Eldred,  1871-1872,  1885-1887;  Rev.  J.  H. 
Grimm,  1871-1872;  Rev.  J.  J.  Vaughn,  1871-1875;  Rev.  E. 
Bovee,  1873-1875,  1885-1886;  Rev.  E.  S.  Alderman,  1873-1875; 
Rev.  A.  W.  Alderman,  1873-1875;  Rev.  D.  C.  Talbot,  later 
Minnesota,  1884,  1888-1892,  Mr.  David  Cross,  1884;  Mr. 
George  Beach,  1884;  Rev.  A.  Whitney,  1884;  Rev.  H.  Deal, 
1885-1892;  Rev.  J.  H.  Richards,  1887-1904;  Rev.  A.  J.  Hood, 
1893-1897;  Mr.  Thomas  Gillingham,  1894-1902;  Rev  Ida  Rich- 
ards, 1898-1903,  1907-1909:  Mr.  William  Dolan,  1903-1905;  Rev. 

353 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

L  L.  Thayer.  1904-1906;  Rev.  L.  A.  Mclntyre,  1905-..  ..;  Mr. 
John  Cook,  1905-1907;  Mr.  R.  O.  Moon,  1908-1910;  Rev.  C.  B. 
Hoke,  1909- 

Alumni  Association. 
Rev  W.  T.  Jackson,  1876-1877;  Rev.  L.  Bookwalter,  1876- 
1879;  Rev.  F.  M.  Washburne,  1876-1878;  Rev.  A.  W.  Drury, 
1876-1877;  Mr.  J.  B.  Overholser,  1876-1877;  Col.  A.  D.  Collier, 
1877-1881;  Prof.  A.  M.  Beal,  1878-1896;  Rev.  R.  E.  Williams, 
1878-1881,  1893-1900,  1903-1904;  Mr.  Milo  Booth,  1879-1893; 
Mr.  W.  J.  Ham,  1880-1884;  Mr.  W.  H.  Klinefelter,  1882-1883; 
Miss  Josephine  Johnson,  1882-1883;  Mr.  E.  O.  Kretsinger, 
1883-1884;  Mrs.  Catherine  Beatty,  1884-1887;  Mr.  J.  L.  Drury, 
1884-1887;  Rev.  J.  H.  Albert,  1885-1888;  Rev.  M.  R.  Drury, 
1887-1888;  Mrs.  Anna  E.  Swain,  1888-1890;  Hon.  Joseph  Book- 
waiter,  1889-1890;  Rev.  C.  M.  Brooke,  1891-1892;  Mr.  J.  A. 
Runkle,  1891-1892;  Mr.  T.  D.  Wilcox,  1893-1899;  Rev.  R.  L. 
Purdy,  1896-1903;  Mr.  W.  C.  Smith,  1900-1909;  Mr.  C.  D. 
Baker,  1901-1904;  Dr.  M.  M.  Baumgartner,  1904-1909;  Mr. 
C.  W.  Ennis,  1905- . . . . ;  Mr.  J.  A.  Shuey,  1909-.. . . ;  Mr.  R.  P. 
Kepler,  1909-....;  Mr.  A.  C.  Larsen,  1909-....;  Mr.  J.  J. 
Shambaugh,   1909- 

Dakota  Conference. 
Rev.  I.  D.  Rust,  1882-1885;  Rev.  D.  M.  Harvey,  1882-1885; 
Rev.  A.  N.   King,   1882-1883;   Rev.  D.  O.   Darling,   1882-1883; 
Rev.  M.  Fulcomer,  1884-1885;  Rev.  F.  L.  Moore,  1884-1885. 

East  Nebraska  Conference. 
Rev.  E.  W.  Tohnson,  1882-1884,  1886-1891;  Rev.  O.  D. 
Cone,  1882-1885;  Rev.  S.  Austin,  1882-1884;  Rev.  W.  P.  Cald- 
well, 1882-1884;  Rev.  J.  W.  Eads,  1882-1884;  Mr.  C.  S.  Horn- 
ing, 1883-1889;  Rev.  S.  Cole,  1885-1888;  Mr.  C.  Waulbrandt, 
1886-1889;  Rev.  F.  W.  Jones,  1890-1891;  Mr.  J.  M.  Romsdal, 
1890-1891. 

Elkhorn  Conference. 
Rev.  W.  R.  Bowman,  1882-1885,  1890-1891;  Rev.  D.  D. 
Weimer,  1882-1889;  Rev.  J.  W.  Tucker,  1882-1884;  Rev.  J.  E. 
Baxter,  1882-1884;  Mr.  C.  K.  Motter,  1882-1886;  Rev.  W.  H. 
Post,  1886-1888;  Rev.  S.  W.  Koontz,  1887-1891;  Rev.  George 
Harding,  1889-1891. 

Colorado  Conference. 

Rev.  H.  Stoufer,  1886-1887;  Rev.  G.  W.  Rose,  1886-1888; 

Hon.  L.  S.  Cornell,  1886-1888;  Rev.  E.  Harper,  1888-1891;  Rev. 

G.  H.  Smith,  1889-1891;  Rev.  W.  H.   McCormick,  1889-1891; 

Mr.  W.  I.   Kitely,   1889-1892;   Rev.   A.  Schwimley,   1892-1897; 

354 


Appendix 

Rev.  A.  Griffith,   1893-1894;  Rev.  D.  Tracey,  1893-1894;  Rev. 
J.  P.  Wilson,  1895-1897;  Mr.  Samuel  Williamson,  1895-1897. 

West  Nebraska  Conference. 
Rev.  C.  B.  Davis,  1886-1887;  Rev.  J.  D.  Frye,  1886-1887; 
Rev.  D.  S.  Shiflet,  1886-1887:  Mr.  Ed  Searson,  1888-1891;  Rev. 
G.  F.  Deal,  1888-1891;  Rev.  J.  M.  Eads,  1888-1891;  Rev.  C.  M. 
Brooke.   1889-1890. 

Trustees-at-Large. 

lion.  James  Wilson,  1886-1891;  Hon.  W.  F.  Johnston, 
1886-1887;  Mr.  Solomon  Lichtenwalter,  1886-1895;  Hon.  J.  A. 
T.  Hull,  1888-1889;  Hon.  L.  G.  Kinne,  1890-1894;  Hon.  John 
H.  Shambaugh,  continued  from  Des  Moines,  1903-....;  Hon. 
R.  H.  Moore,  1892-1893;  Hon.  Austin  Jay,  1893-1894;  Hon. 
H.  J.  Stiger,  1895-1896;  Mr.  W.  H.  Withington,  1895-1897; 
Mr.  Franz  Hertrich,  1896-1898;  Major  Leander  Clark,  1897- 
1899,  1901-1910;  Mr.  Joseph  Storm,  1898-1899;  Mr.  W.  W. 
Runkle,  1899-1902;  Mr.  A.  G.  Davidson,  1901-1903;  Rev.  F.  E. 
Brooke,  1904-1908;  Judge  U.  S.  Guyer,  1909- 

Michigan  Conference. 
Rev.  W.   O.   Bridenstine,   1890-1894;   Rev.  W.  A.  Weller, 
1890-1894;  Mr.  Edwin  Parks,  1890-1892;  Mr.  J.  J.  Bear,  1893- 
1894. 

North  Michigan  Conference. 
Rev.    Daniel    Dean,    1891-1894;    Rev.    F.    M.    McClintock, 
1891-1894;  Rev.  D.  S.  Arnold,  1892-1894. 

Northern  Illinois  Conference. 

Mr.  D.  C.  Overholser,  continued  from  Rock  River,  1903- 

;   Rev.  J.   Groff,  continued  from   Rock   River,   1902-1907 

Rev.  J.  W.  Boggess,  continued  from  Rock  River,  1902-1903 
Mr.  Alex.  Anderson,  continued  from  Rock  River,  1902-.... 
Dr.  W.  O.  Krohn,  1908- 

Iowa  State  Conference. 
Mr.  B.  F.  Fantz,  1909-....;  Mr.  D.  H.  Kurtz,  1909-....; 
Rev.  George  Miller,  1909-..  . . ;  Mr.  Frank  P.  Perry,  1909-..  . . ; 
Mr.  Adam  Shambaugh,  1909-....;  Mr.  W.  H.  Trussell,  1909- 

Executive    Committee. 

J.  E.  Bowersox,   1856-1868;  Solomon   Weaver,  1856-1860; 

W.  H.  Shuey,  1856-1860,  1866-1869;  S.  S.  Dillman,  1857-1858; 

William   Parmenter,    1857-1860;   Jacob    Berger,    1857-1858;   J. 

Manning,   1858-1865;  William  Weed,   1858-1859;  W.   B.  Wag- 

355 


Western — Lcandcr-Clark  College 

ner,   1858-1865,  1872-1876;   M.  W.   Bartlett,  1858-1867;  Joseph 
Wickard,  1858-1860;  Jonathan  Neidig,  1860-1864;  William  M. 
Stiles,  1860-1863;  H.  A.  Thompson,  1861-1862;  John  W.  Hen- 
derson, 1862-1865;  J.  D.  Bowman,  1862-1863;  W.  S.  DeMoss, 
1862-1863;  D.  A.  Tawney,   1863-1864;  J.  A.  Shuey,  1863-1864; 
F.  B.  Hill,  1863-1864;  A.  H.  Neidig,  1863-1870;  Benj.  Tallman, 
1865-1868;   Dennis   Gray,   1865-1866;  J.   W.    Horn,   1865-1880; 
J.    G.    Snyder,    1865-1866;    Adam    Perry,    1866-1881;    Ransom 
Davis,  1866-1881;  E.  B.  Kephart,  Chairman,  1868-1881;  Homer 
R.  Page,  1869-1871;  L.  M.  Healey,  1870-1871;  A.  C.  Gilmore, 
1871-1876;  H.  A.  Dilling,  1876-1879;  John  Kephart,  1876-1878; 
Ralph  Shatto,  1876-1878;   S.  Dice,  1877-1878;  J.   Speak,  1877- 
1878;  T.  Halberson,  1878-1879;  David  Silver,  1878-1881;  J.  S. 
Rock,  1879-1881;  D.  Manning,  1879-1881;  W.  M.  Beardshear, 
Chairman,    1881-1889;    E.    R.    Smith,    1881-....;    W.    J.    Ham, 
1881-1883;  W.  F.  Johnston,  1881-....;  E.  C.  Ebersole,  1881- 
1897,  1902-1907;  H.  S.  Thompson,  1881-1882;  Daniel  Reamer, 
1883-1886,  1895-1897;   H.  W.  Rebok,  1883-1886;  M.  S.  Drury. 
1884-1892;  B.  M.  Long,  1886-1890;  J.  S.  Mills,  Chairman,  1889- 
1892;  T.   D.  Adams,  1892-1893;  A.  M.   Beal,  Chairman,   1892- 
1893;  J.    P.   Miller,    1892-1893;   J.   H.   Ross,   1892-1895;   A.   F. 
Leusch,    1892-1894;   A.   P.   Funkhouser,   Chairman,   1893-1894; 
S.    R.    Lichtenwalter,    1893-....;    L.    Bookwalter,    Chairman, 
1894-1904;  W.   H.   Withington,   1894-1895,   1898-1902;   D.   Mc- 
Intyre,    1895-1900;   Leander  Clark,   1897-1898;   S.   S.   Dobson, 
1900-1906;  M.  R.  Drury,  1906-1907;  C.  J.  Kephart,  Chairman, 
1905-1908;   W.   A.    Dexter,    1907-....;   W.   H.   Batcher,    1907- 
....;   Franklin  E.   Brooke,  Chairman,   1908- 

FACULTY. 
Presidents. 
Rev.  Solomon  Weaver,  1856-1864;  Rev.  William  Davis, 
1864-1865:  M.  W.  Bartlett  (Principal),  1865-1867;  Homer  R. 
Page  (Principal),  Fall  Term,  1867;  E.  C.  Ebersole  (Princi- 
pal), 1867-1868;  Rev.  E.  B.  Kephart.  1868-1881;  Rev.  W.  M. 
Beardshear,  1881-1889;  Rev.  J.  S.  Mills,  1889-1892;  A.  M. 
Beal,  1892-1893;  Rev.  A.  P.  Funkhouser,  1893-1894;  Rev.  L. 
Bookwalter,  1894-1904;  Rev.  C.  J.  Kephart,  1905-1908;  Rev. 
F.  E.  Brooke,  1908- 

Vice  Presidents. 
A.    M.    Beal,    1887-1891;   W.   S.   Reese,    1891-1894;    E.    F. 
Warren,    1894-1896;    B.    F.    McClelland,    1896-1900;    H.    W. 
Ward,  1900- 

Professors. 

Sylvester    S.    Dillman,    Mathematics    and    Science,    1857- 
1860;  Mrs.  Emily  L.  Dillman,  Lady  Principal,  1857-1860;  John 

356 


Appendix 

C.  Shracler.  Anatomy  and  Physioligy,  1857-1858;  M.  W- 
Bartlett,  Greek  and  Latin,  1857-1867;  William  Parmenter, 
M.D.,  Anatomy  and  Physiology,  1858-1860;  Homer  R.  Page, 
Natural  Science,  1867-1870;  E.  C.  Ebersole,  Mathematics, 
1863-1866,    1867-1868;    H.    A.    Thompson,    Mathematics,    1861- 

1862;  Sarah  Jane  Miller,  Lady  Principal,  1860-1863;  

Brittell,  1862-1863;  D.  A.  Tawney,  Mathematics  and  Natural 
Science,  1862-1864;  Frances  C.  Spencer,  Lady  Principal,  1863- 
1865;  P.  W.  Reeder,  1864-1865;  Hester  A.  Hillis,  Lady  Prin- 
cipal, 1865-1867;  William  Langham,  Ancient  Languages,  1867- 
1870;  Emma  Guitner  Bookwalter,  Lady  Principal,  1868-1872; 
Francis  Kun,  Ancient  Languages,  1870-1872;  Emma  Neidig 
Steele,  Lady  Principal,  1867-1868;  Rev.  J.  S.  Aikman,  Natural 
Science  and  History,  1870-1871;  I.  L.  Kephart,  Natural  Sci- 
ence and  History,  1871-1876;  A.  W.  Drury,  Ancient  Lan- 
guages, 1872-1873;  Sarah  Jane  Surran,  Lady  Principal,  1872- 
1874;  Amelia  B.  Grove,  Lady  Principal,  1874-1875;  A.  M. 
Beal,  Natural  Science,  1881-1891;  U.  D.  Runkle,  History  and 
German,  1882-1884;  Mary  Louise  Hopwood,  Lady  Principal, 
1875-1876;  Byron  O.  White,  Natural  Science  and  History, 
1877-1879;  R.  E.  Williams,  Mathematics,  1876-1877;  Anna 
Shuey  Swain,  Lady  Principal,  1876-1881,  Mathematics,  1881- 
1885;  J.  W.  Robertson,  Ancient  Languages,  1880-1881;  J.  H. 
Albert,  Mathematics,  1878-1879;  Ancient  Languages,  1879- 
1880;  Peter  Wagner,  Natural  Science,  1881-1882;  Josephine 
Johnson,  Assistant  Teacher,  1879-1881;  Modern  Languages, 
1891-1893;  J.  A.  Weller,  Ancient  Languages,  1881-1887;  J.  L. 
Drury,  Modern  Languages,  1881-1882;  A.  L.  DeLong,  English 
Literature,  1883-1884;  I.  A.  Loos,  History  and  German,  1884- 
1889;  Herbert  Oldham,  Director  of  Conservatory  of  Music, 
1885-1890;  Thomson  Jeffrey,  Greek  and  Latin,  1887-1888; 
J.  S.  Mills,  English  Literature,  1887-1889;  Philosophy,  1889- 
1893;  M.  Alice  Dickson,  Greek,  1888-1889;  Henry  W.  Ward, 
Latin  and  Mathematics,  1888-1889,  Greek  and  Latin,  1889- 
1893,  1897-1900,  English  Literature,  1900-....;  L.  F.  John, 
English  Literature,  1889-1890;  B.  M.  Long,  English  Liter- 
ature and  History,  1890-1893;  W.  T.  Jackson,  Literature  and 
History,  1890-1891;  J.  M.  Eppstein,  Director  of  Conservatory 
of  Music,  1890-1893;  E.  A.  Zumbro,  Natural  Science,  1891- 
1893;  W.  D.  Stratton,  Natural  Science,  1893-1894;  A.  C. 
Streich,  Ancient  Languages,  1893-1894;  Belle  Schelling,  Eng- 
lish Literature,  1893-1894;  Anna  Dell  LeFevre,  French  and 
German,  1893-1895;  Hattie  Williams,  Director  of  Conserva- 
tory of  Music,  1893-1894;  Delia  Black,  Director  of  Conserva- 
tory of  Music,  1894;  August  Hailing,  Director  of  Conserva- 
tory of  Music,  1894-1896;  Edward  L.  Colebeck,  Greek  and 
Latin,  1894-1897;  Arthur  Gray  Leonard,  Geology,  1894-1896; 
Maud  Fulkerson,  Modern  Languages,  1895-1898;  Raymond  E. 
Bower,   Mathematics,    1896-1898;    B.   A.   Sweet,   Natural   Sci- 

357 


Western — Lcandcr-Clark  College 

ence,  1896-1899;  W.  Francis  Gales,  Director  of  Conservatory 
of  Music,  1896-1899;  Florence  M.  Cronise,  Modern  Lan- 
guages,  1898-....;  J.  A.  Ward,  Philosophy,  1898-1902;  J.  F. 

Yothers,  Mathematics,  1898-1904,  1905- ;  Romanzo  Adams, 

Economics  and  Sociology,  1898-1900;  Thomas  E.  Savage, 
Biology  and  Geology,  1899-1903;  George  Pratt  Maxim,  Di- 
rector of  Conservatory  of  Music,  1899-1901;  Marie  Book- 
waiter,  Voice,  1899-1905;  R.  P.  Dougherty,  Greek,  1901-1902; 
Ida  B.  Fleischer,  Modern  Languages,  1901-1902;  Charles  P. 
Fisher,  Director  of  Conservatory  of  Music,  1901-1902;  J.  W. 
Bowen,  Physical  Science,  1902-1904;  Charles  R.  Pearsall, 
Greek  and  Latin,  1902-1904;  John  Knowles  Weaver, 
Director  of  Conservatory  of  Music,  1902-1909;  S.  W.  Collett, 
Geology  and  Biology,  1903-1905;  E.  O.  Fiske,  Mathematics, 
1904-1905;  W.  L.  Verry,  Greek  and  Latin,  1904-....;  J.  E. 
Maxwell,  Chemistry  and  Biologv,  1905-1909;  E.  S.  Smith, 
Didactics,  1905-1907;  J.  H.  Underwood,  History  and  Social 
Science,  1906-1907;  I.  A.  Holbrook,  History  and  Social  Sci- 
ence, 1907;  B.  W.  Clayton,  Voice,  1905-1908;  Ross  Masters, 
Education,  1907- ;  C.  R.  Shatto,  History  and  Social  Sci- 
ence, 1907- ;  A.  P.  Kephart,  Physical  Science,  1908;  G.  D. 

Swartzel,  Physical  Science,  1908-1909;  Lillie  Logan  Kean, 
Voice,  1908-1909;  G.  E.  Chapman,  Business  College,  1905- 
1907,  1909-1910;  M.  W.  Cunningham,  Public  Speaking,  1909- 
. .  . . ;  W.  L.  Thickstun,  Directory  of  Conservatory  of  Music. 
1909-1910;  Adele  Bishop  Medlar,  Voice,  1909-1910;  O.  L. 
Lovan,  Chemistrv,  1909-....;  A.  L.  Leathers,  Biology,  1909- 
1910;  Leslie  A.  Kenoyer,  Biology,  1910- ;  Laurel  E.  Yea- 
mans,  Director  of  Conservatory  of  Music,  1910-....;  Arthur 
R.  Slack,  Voice,  1910- 

Instructors,  Assistants,  and  Tutors. 
Mrs.  S.  R.  Pearce,  Bookkeeping  and  Mechanical  Draw- 
ing, 1857-1859;  Mrs.  Jane  Bowman,  Instrumental  Music, 
1S62-1863,  1870-1879;  Miss  J.  H.  Kumler,  Piano,  1866-1868; 
Mrs.  Fawcett,  Piano,  1866-1867;  E.  Hastings,  Commerce, 
1867-1868;  Gertrude  Irwin,  Music,  1867-1868;  J.  A.  Shuey, 
Mathematics,  1867-1868;  Miss  Frisbee,  Music,  1869-1870;  E.  F. 
Light,  German  and  Penmanship,  1870-1873;  Henry  Sheak, 
Bookkeeping,  1870-1873;  J.  W.  Baumgardner,  German,  1873- 
1879;  Milo  Booth,  Bookkeeping,  1873-1875;  A.  L.  Marshall, 
Penmanship,  1873-1874;  Mrs.  S.  J.  Kephart,  Drawing  and 
Painting,  1873-1881;  W.  J.  Ham,  Tutor,  1874-1877;  N.  Ferris, 
Phonography,  1875-1877;  D.  L.  Brown,  Bookkeeping,  1875- 
1876;  R.  W.  Elliott,  Phonography,  1876-1877;  F.  P.  Miller, 
Bookkeeping  and  Ornamental  Penmanship,  1876-1879;  W.  A. 
Hubbard,  Vocal  Music,  1876-1877;  Eli  Ridenour,  Penmanship, 
1877-1880;  W.  S.  Varner,  Vocal  Music,  1877-1879;  Mrs.  Emma 
Wagner,    Bookkeeping,    1879-1880;    Mrs.    J.    J.    Zumbrunnen, 

358 


Appendix 

German,     1879-1880;     Miss     Nellie     Flickinger,     Instrumental 
Music,  1879-1880;  G.  W.  Miller,  Vocal  Music,  1879-1881;  T.  H. 
Studebaker,    Bookkeeping,    1880-1882,    Principal    Commercial 
College,   1907-1908;   Mrs.   N.   Law,   Instrumental   Music,   1880- 
1881;  R.  L.  Swain,  Vocal  Music,  1881-1885;  Mrs.  A.  G.  Smith, 
Instrumental    Music,    1881-1882;    Frank   P.   Smith,    Bookkeep- 
ing,   1881-1882;    I.    H.    Bunn,    Vocal    Music,    1882-1883;    Miss 
Gertrude     Hogan,     Instrumental     Music,     1882-1883;     G.     H. 
Smith,   Phonography,   1882-1884;   C.   L.   Mundhenk,  Band   In- 
struments,   1888-1889;     E.    B.    Hobson,    Bookkeeping,     1883- 
1884;    H.    McVey,    Bookkeeping,    1884-1885;    Anna   V.    Zeller, 
Instrumental  Music,  1883-1885;  F.  J.  Browne,  Tutor  in  Latin, 
1883-1884;  L.  F.  Loos,  German,  18S9-1891;  J.  F.  Leffler,  Tutor 
in   Mathematics,   1884-1885;   V.  A.   Carlton,   Geography,   1884- 
1885;  O.  O.  Runkle,  Bookkeeping  and  Commercial  Law,  1885- 
1887;    Mary    E.    Kern,    Grammar    and    Physical    Geography, 
1885-1S86;  Bertha  C.  Morrison,  Drawing  and  Painting,  1886- 
1887;  Anna  M.  Close,  Assistant,  Piano  and  Organ,  1886-1888; 
Jesse  A.   Runkle,   English    Grammar,   1887;   Shorthand,   1890- 
1891;    Susie    Burroughs,    Physical    Geography    and    History, 
1887-1888;    Mary    A.    Woodmansee,    Painting    and    Drawing, 
1887-1890;    Mrs.    Agnes    Baldwin,    Violin,    1887-1889;    P.    L. 
Swearingen,  Band  Instruments,  1887-1892;  J.  P.  Blaise,  Short- 
hand, 1887-1891;  Emma  Kilmer,  Shorthand,  1887-1891;  W.  M. 
Johnson,    Instructor  in    Mathematics,   1888-1890;    G.   W.   An- 
derson, Assistant,   Piano  and  Organ,   1888-1889;   Esther  But- 
ler, Instructor  in  History,  1889-1890;  E.  F.  Buchner,  Instruc- 
tor    Preparatory     Department,     1889-1890;     Luella     Pickett, 
Shorthand    and   Typewriting,    1889-1890;    Miss    U.    N.    Smith, 
Piano  and  Organ,  1889-1890;  Minnie  Whitten,  Physical  Geog- 
raphy, 1889-1890;  Ella  Mobley,  Painting  and  Drawing,  1890- 
1891;    Floy    Lawrence,    Piano    and    Organ,    1890-1891:    May 
Spencer,    English     Grammar,     1891-1892;     Mrs.     Idah    Tracy 
Eppstein,  Elocution,   1891-1893;  Flora  Wonser,   Painting  and 
Drawing,    1891-1896;    Fannie    Strong,    Assistant,    Piano    and 
Organ,    1891-1892;    Irma   Eldridge,   Violin,    1891-1892;    W.   A. 
Smith,    Principal     College    of    Commerce,    1891-1893;    S.    E. 
Clapp,   Shorthand  and  Typewriting,    1891-1894;  U.   S.   Guyer, 
Penmanship,    1891-1892;    A.    S.    Gibbs,   Teacher   of   Athletics, 
1891-1892;    Rev.   J.    P.   Miller,   Biblical    Literature,    1892-1893: 
Theodore  Rude,   Stringed   Instruments,   1893-1894;    Edgar  U. 
Logan,  Principal  College  of  Commerce,  1893-1897;  Rev.  J.  B. 
Chase,  Biblical  Literature,  1893-1894;  Rev.  W.  I.  Beatty,  Bib- 
lical  Literature,   1894-1898;   Anna   Richards,   Elocution,    1895- 
1897;  John   H.  Stair,  Shorthand  and  Typewriting,   1895-1896; 
Mrs.    Catherine    R.    Reamer,    Painting    and    Drawing,    1896- 
1902;   W.    R.    Morrow,   Assistant   in   Greek   and   Latin,    1897- 
1898;  Mrs.   Minnie  Gates,  Elocution  and  Oratory,  1897-1899; 
II.    B.    Trindle,    Principle    College    of    Commerce,    1897-1898; 

359 


Western — Leander-Clark  Colleg  e 

Maude  Ebersole,  Shorthand  and  Typewriting.  1898-1899; 
Mary  R.  Peterson,  Elocution  and  Oratory,  1899-1900;  W.  A. 
Brenner,  Shorthand  and  Typewriting,  1899-1901;  Principal 
College  of  Commerce,  1901-1903;  G.  Mabel  Wallace,  Elocu- 
tion and  Oratory,  1900-1901;  Ray  B.  Withington,  Assistant, 
College  of  Commerce,  1900-1901;  Forrest  S.  Cartwright,  Elo- 
cution and  Oratory,  1901-1902;  Mrs.  L.  R.  McClelland,  In- 
structor in  Preparatory  Department,  1901-1905;  C.  H.  Elliott, 
Assistant  in  Chemistry  and  Commerce,  1902-1905;  Mrs.  May 
Louise  Wilson,  Elocution  and  Oratory,  1902-1907;  John 
Ellston,  Principal,  College  of  Commerce,  1903-1905;  Harriet 
M.  Hasse,  Violin,  1903-1904;  Roy  L.  Steffa,  Violin,  1905-1906; 
Jesse  H.  Gray,  Shorthand  and  Typewriting,  1905-1906;  Zoa 
Miller,  Art,  1905-1906;  Mabel  Owen,  Assistant  in  Organ, 
1906-1908;  Zae  Cannon,  Violin,  1906-1910;  Mrs.  W.  C.  Pierce, 
Shorthand  and  Typewriting,  1906-....;  Nellie  H.  Boone, 
Art,  1906-1908:  Stella  H.  Ells,  Elocution  and  Oratory,  1907- 
1909;  Cloetta  Rebok,  Assistant,  Piano  and  Organ,  1908-1909; 
Agnes  Blinn,  Art,  1909-1910;  Oley  A.  Kintz,  Principal,  Busi- 
ness College,  1908-1909;  Dr.  F.  P.  St.  Clair,  Medical  Exam- 
iner and  Coach,  1909-....;  Winifred  Walden,  Instructor  in 
English  and  Latin,  1909-....;  Mrs.  Grace  Tucker  Slack, 
Violin  and  Art,  1910-....:  Dona  Hanna,  Assistant,  Piano 
and  Pipe  Organ,   1910- 


360 


Appendix 


HONORARY  ALUMNI. 

Doctor  of  Laws. 

Judge  L.  G.  Kinne,  1890;  Hon.  Ezra  C.   Ebersole,   1894 

Dr.  J    C.   Shrader,   1894;   Senator  William   B.  Allison,   1906: 

Ef«ildw  *.   Lewis    Bookwalter,    1906;    Hon.    James    Wilson! 

1906;  Major  Leander  Clark,   1907. 

Doctor  of  Divinity. 
Bishop   John   Dickson,    1876;    Rev.   W.  J.   Pruner    1882- 
Bishop  J.  W.  Hott,  1882;  Rev.  I.  L.  Kephart,  1884;  President 
D    D.  DeLong,  1884;  Rev.  M.  H.  Smith,  1890;  Bishop  Nich- 
olas   Castle,    1890;    Rev.    George    Miller,    1891;    Rev     M     R 

?onU<rV891T;  ?e\-xK^,Statton'  1891'>  Rev-  H-  S-  Jenanyanj 
!n25;  Sev-  J°hn,W-  Nelson,  1907;  Rev.  John  Henry  Albert, 
!™£;  £ev-  Frank  Bruner,  1907;  President  B.  F.  Daugherty 
,2K;  5ev-  S^Pry  W-  Curtis'  1909:  Rev-  Nelson  A.  Mershon, 
1909;  Rev.  Richard  J.  Parrett,  1909;  Rev.  A.  E.  Wright,  1910. 

Doctor  of  Music. 
H.  S.  Perkins,  1885. 

Master   of  Arts. 

t     ^RecY;   W;   H-   Gpodison,   1871;   M.   B.   Bartlett,   1876;   Dr. 

<i  Su  S,horonderT'  lF7A  Dn  John  North'  1879'  Dr-  Gustavus 
North,  1880;  L.  S.  Cornell,  1886;  Rev.  T.  D.  Adams,  1890. 

Bachelor  of  Philosophy. 
H.  D.  Hathaway,  1876. 

Bachelor  of  Pedagogy. 

Moses  Johnson,  1888. 


361 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 


ALUMNI. 

College  of  Liberal  Arts. 

1864 

William  Taylor  Jackson,  Emma  Neidig  Steele. 

1865 
Jacob  Augustus  Shuey. 

1868 
Mary  Beam  Emerson,  Amelia  Grove  Harden. 

1869 
Elnora  A.  Cook,  Joseph  B.  Overholser,  Homer  R.  Page. 

1870 

Martha  Allison  Washburn. 

1871 
Alfred  D.  Collier. 

1872 
Lewis  Bookwalter,  William  Henry  Custer,  Augustus  Waldo 
Drury,  Marion  Richardson  Drury,  Francis  Rhinehart  Fry,  Sallie 
Perry   Kephart,   Lucy    Strother    Williams,    Anna    Shuey    Szvain, 
Sarah  Surran  Light,  Robert  Erwin  Williams. 

1873 
Thomas  Jefferson  Bauder,  Milo  Booth,  Henry  G.  Bowman, 
Eva  Drury  McHose,  Enoch  Faber  Light,  William  Kendrick  Riggs, 
Henry  Sheak,  John  Wesley  Surran. 

1874 
William  Bower  Arble,  Luther  M.  Conn,  Cyrus  Jeffries  Kep- 
hart, Alvin  Lyman  Marshall,  Francis  Marion  Washburn.    - 

1875 
John   Henry  Albert,    Mildred   Gambrel,   Mary   Louise    Hop- 
wood. 

1876 
Albert    Milton    Beal,    William    Irons    Beatty,    Sophia    Book- 
waiter  Drury,  Mary  Clarissa  Hedges  PcMey,  Jeannette  Belle  Hop- 
wood,  William  Henry  Kauffman,  Frank  S.  Smith. 

362 


Appendix 

1877 

Joseph  Bookwalter,  Arsemus  Richmond  Burkdol,  William 
Jasper  Ham,  John  Martin  Horn,  Josephine  Johnson,  Sarah  Jane 
McAlvin,  John  Augustus  Moore,  Abram  Hershey  Neidig,  Urias 
D.  Runkle,  Australia  Patterson  Shumaker,  Catherine  Patterson 
Beatty,  Almina  Woolridge  Hopwood. 

1878 
John  Wesley  Baumgardner,  Arthur  Melbourne  Moore. 

1879 

William  Henry  Klinefelter,  Walter  LeRoy  Linderman,  Daniel 
Miller,  Eliza  Moore  Miller,  Emma  Patton  Davis. 

1880 
William  Otterbein  DeMoss,  Louisa  Halverson  Albert,  Ernest 
Otterbein   Kretsinger,   George   D.   Mathewson,    Eli   H.  Ridenour, 
James  Wesley  Robertson. 

1881 

Adeline  Dickman  Miller,  John  Lawrence  Drury,  Mary  Ellen 
Horn  Drury,  George  McAnelly  Miller,  Alice  Singley  Wilson, 
Robert  Rush  Wilson. 

1882 

Walter  Clarence  Smith,  Thomas  Henderson  Studebaker. 

1883 

Emma  Jane  Howard  Weller,  Willis  Eaton  Johnson. 

1884 

Isaiah  L.  Albert,  Kate  Adell  Coates  Russell,  Daniel  Folkmar, 
Frank  J.  Browne,  Vivian  Albert  Carlton,  John  F.  Leffler,  Anna 
Maiden  Leffler,  Charles  Fremont  Schell.  Richard  LaRue  Swain. 

1886 

Lucy  Blinn  Sears,  Charles  Morgan  Brooke,  John  P.  Hen- 
dricks, Simeon  Jethro  Lowe,  Cora  Middlekauff  Dick,  James  A. 
Merritt,  Josephine  Patterson  Wonser,  Eugene  Riley  Smith,  Cyrus 
Holland  Timmons. 

1887 

Daisy  Gallion  Smith,  Mary  Emma  Greenlee,  Myrtle  Jarvis 
Miller,  Charles  Lincoln  Mundhenk,  Jesse  A.  Runkle,  Minnie 
Whitten  Barnes. 

1888 

Charles  E.  Bennett,  Peter  O.  Bonebrake,  Esther  Butler 
Austin,  Clara  Cozad  Keesel,  Elnora  Dickman  Richie,  Daniel  G. 

363 


Western — Lcandcr-Clark  College 

Filkins,  Gazelle  Holstead  Rogers,  Lawrence  Keister,  Emma  May 
Kephart  Roop,  E.  Geneve  Lichtenwalter,  Mary  T.  Louthan,  Alvin 
H.  Patterson,  Albert  Edward  Slessor,  Edna  Thompson  Rcbok, 
Henry  Winfield  Ward,  Thomas  Dwight  Wilcox,  William  M. 
Zumbro. 

1889 
Eugene    D.    Abrams,    Charles    D.    Baker,    Squire    Trevelyn 
Beatty,    Edward    Franklin    Buchner,    Oliver    Benjamin    Chitty, 
Horace    C.    Coe,    Benjamin    F.    Cokely,    Etta    Fulcomer    Winter, 
William  Oterbein  Krohn,  John  Albert  Ward. 

1890 
Simon  Peter  Gary,  Jeremiah  S.  George,  Franz  Seigel  Hettler, 
Clarence  Ward  Ingham,  Lulu  Maude  Kephart  John,  Jesse  Jessen 
Kolmos,  Susie  Lichtenwalter  Riggs  Harper,  William  Grant  Little, 
May  Middlekauff  Runkle,  Erwin  William  Runkle,  William  Elias 
Schell,  Charles  Rollin  Shatto,  William  Avery  Smith,  Arthur 
Biggs  Statton,  Emma  Stauffer,  Frank  E.  Stouffer,  Samuel  Mar- 
cellus  Stouffer,  Willis  Austin  Warren,  Roderick  Freeman  Watts. 

1891 

Anna  Brabham  Osborn,  Newton  Weldon  Burtner,  Nelson  P. 
Cronk,  Howard  H.  Everett,  Jennie  Fearer  Trueblood,  William 
Potter  Fearer,  William  E.  Fee,  Elmer  E.  Fix,  Fannie  Heistand 
Fix,  Hiram  O.  Green,  William  Otterbein  Harper,  Lloyd  Fisher 
Loos,  Clark  D.  Spencer. 

1892 
William  B.  Barnett,  Charles  W.  Brewbaker,  Isaac  N.  Cain, 
Annetta  Dickman  Wilkins,  Mary  Pitman  Donaldson  Dennis, 
Addie  Ingersoll  Humphrey,  Nellie  Irons  Ross,  Richard  P.  Kepler, 
Malvern  H.  Kepler,  Clara  Mason  Scutt,  Mary  Mutch  Cain,  Emma 
Maynard  Ross,  Belle  Schelling  Allen,  Louise  Shambaugh  Jones, 
Harriet  Tyner  Lozvry. 

1893 

Lewis  H.  Gehman,  Anna  Hild  Franks,  Howard  M.  Hum- 
phrey, Ferdinand  W.  Jones,  Amos  S.  Main,  Ida  Richards,  Mary 
B.  Spencer,  W.  D.  Stratton,  Sidney  Alcott  Wheelwright. 

1894 
Frank    Greenville    Beardsley,    Ulysses    Samuel    Guyer,   J.    F. 
Hull,  Frank  E.  Kaufman,  Mark  Masters,  L.  E.  Maker,  Joseph  H. 
McClain,  Richard  L.  Purdy,  Henry  Eugene  Slattery,  Lola  Adams 
Statton. 

1895 
Franklin  E.  Brooke,  James  Keel  Coddington,  Samuel  Erwin 
Long,  Charles  F.  Peterson,  G.  Ellis  Porter,  James  C.  Sanders. 

364 


Appendix 

1896 
.Mfred  Guitner  Bookwalter,  Frank  K.  Long. 

1897 

Milton  M.  Baumgartner,  Philo  Walker  Drury,  John  Eldon 
Foster,  George  Wesley  Porter,  Herman  A.  Runkle,  Lucie  Smith 
Baumgartner,  Elizabeth  Bessie  Schoolcraft  Ward,  Edwin  Beecher 
Ward. 

1898 

Edward  B.  Berger,  Ethel  Bookwalter  Burtncr,  Frank  E. 
Buck,  John  Watt  Coddington,  James  W.  Irons,  Clarence  A.  Jenks, 
John  N.  Lichty,  Alvin  L.  Speaker,  Charles  Fry  Ward,  Olive  Wil- 
liams, Blanche  Williams,  Louise  Wolpert  Stover. 

1899 

Frank  E.  Field,  Leon  L.  Hammitt,  Grace  Holstead,  Charles 
E.  Locke,  Albert  Mathern,  Clarence  B.  Mericle. 

1900 

Wilson  Grant  Bear,  Ernest  Allen  Benson,  Nettie  Cunning- 
ham, William  Johnston  Harrison,  Blanche  Hutchison  Soth,  Theo- 
dore Jorgensen,  Julia  Overholser  Drury,  Mildred  Smith  Runkle, 
Grace  Wolpert  Ward,  Samuel  Snyder  Wyand. 

1901 
Charles  Emmett  Berger,  Grace  Bookwalter,  William  Arthur 
Brenner,  Harry  Coddington,  Walter  Scott  Donat,  James  Corneal 
Harrigan,  George  Brown  Jackson,  Mabel  Smith,  Wesley  Rhine- 
hart  Stouffer,  Lois  Talbot,  Hollen  Samuel  Thompson,  John 
Robert  Trindle,  Arthur  Allen  Ward,  Jacob  Henry  Yaggy. 

1902 

Rilla  Aiken  Southard,  Alice  Bookwalter  Ward,  Hiram  Walter 
Cramer,  Nellie  Cronk  Adams,  Ralph  Mason  Hix,  Claude  Henry 
Morton,  Joseph  Martin  Skrable,  Joseph  Harding  Underwood. 

1903 
Angie   Aiken,   Earl   Isaac   Doty,   Frank   A.   Gageby,   August 
Cornelius  Larsen,  Jefferson  Roy  McAnelly,  Lona  Rebok,  Barnett 
Freeman  Roe,  John  Jacob  Shambaugh,  Carl   Blinn   Stiger,  Ger- 
trude May  Thomas,  Ernest  Clayton  Taylor. 

1904 

Edith  Camery  McClaskey,  Ethelbert  Fletcher  Clark,  Clarence 
H.  Elliott,  Glenn  Wilford  Emerson,  Charles  Wilbur  Ennis, 
Emery  Nelson  Ferris,  Charles  Theodore  Hedges,  Adam  Perry 
Kephart,  Harland  Travy  Miller,  Lee  San  ford  Riggs,  Emma  E. 
Riggs,  Florence  Soth,  Clyde  Homer  Stauffer,  William  Charles 
Sullivan. 

365 


Western — Lcander-Clark  College 

1905 

Maud  Ageton,  Jane  Benson  Miller,  George  H.  Cotton,  Luther 
Drury,  Herbert  Paul  Giger,  Georgianna  Jenks,  Charles  Merwin 
Kremer,  David  James  McDonald,  John  Franklin  Mericle,  Glen- 
more  Edward  Maxfield. 

1906 

Benjamin  Franklin  Crenshaw,  Edith  Curtis,  Knight  E.  Fee, 
Charles  Eldon  Foster,  William  Walace  Hart,  William  Beam 
Owen,  Scott  Shambaugh. 

1907 
Grace  Lauretta  Ball,  Laura  May  Benson,  Ross  Danforth  Ben- 
son,   Clara   May   Fee,    Frank   Jarvis,    Mary   Helen   Lee,    George 
Ernest    Lee,    Floyd    Fosler    Speaker,    Mary    Elizabeth    Trussell 
Walden,  Mabel  Wright,  Lloyd  Frank  Walden. 

1908 
Rebecca  Ellen  Caldwell,  Earl  B.  Forney,  Truman  Fontanelle 
Gait,  Jessie  Jenks,  Mabel  Kephart  Soth,  Charles  L.  Mericle,  Fred 
T.  Mayer  Oakes,  M.  Ray  Soth. 

1909 

Lloyd  E.  Bear,  Alva  Otto  Bishop,  George  E.  Chapman,  Eliza- 
beth Talbot  Doty,  Charles  H.  Geil,  Arthur  James  Hagerman, 
Mabel  Lewis,  Hugh  B.  Lee,  Alta  Smith,  Olga  Smith,  Clyde  Earl 
Thomas,  Dewey  Cecil  Violet,  Maude  Youngman. 

1910 
Boone  Winthrop  Brooke,  Florence  Benson,  Mabel  Curtis 
Browne,  Ralph  Wilkinson  Johnson,  Lee  R.  Jackson,  Edith  Maud 
Lee,  Ada  Mary  Meyers,  Robert  Rebok,  Fred  Riggs,  Carlton  M. 
Richards,  Earl  E.  Speaker,  John  Ward  Studebaker,  Claude  H. 
Studebaker,  Floyd  Pitner  St.  Clair,  Ruth  Talbot,  Floyd  Sylvanus 
Westfall. 


366 


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